Set your limits
Keep this tab open. Your phone or browser may pause it in the background, so we also try a notification if you allow one. Nothing is sent anywhere: the timer lives in this browser.
This session
The session reminder is a timer and a money limit you set before you play. Choose 45 minutes and £30, press start, and it checks in every 15 minutes, then sounds off when either limit is reached. It’s free, runs in your browser and doesn’t send anything anywhere.
Session reminder: why a timer helps at all
Gambling is built to be absorbing. Spins take two or three seconds, wins are celebrated with sound and light, and there’s always another one ready. That isn’t a criticism of anyone who plays. It’s design, and it’s very good at making 20 minutes feel like five.
A reminder breaks that up. The check-in doesn’t stop you, it just asks the question you’d ask yourself if you weren’t in the middle of something. How long has it been? How much am I down? Do I still want to be doing this?
Using it
- Set a time limit. 30 to 60 minutes is plenty for most sessions.
- Set a money limit: the most you’re happy to lose this time. The session budget planner helps if you’re not sure.
- Choose how often to check in. Every 15 minutes is a good default.
- Start, then update “Down so far” as you play. Starting balance minus balance now.
When the time’s up or you’ve lost the amount you set, you’ll get a message, three beeps and a phone notification if you allowed one. If you reload the page the timer picks up where it was.
What it can’t do
Be honest with yourself about this bit. The reminder can’t see your casino account and it can’t stop you playing. Phones also pause background tabs to save battery, so if you switch apps the sound may come late. Allowing notifications helps, and keeping the timer on a second screen or a laptop next to you works best.
Most gambling sites have their own reality check in the account settings, which pops up inside the game every so often with your time and net result. Turn it on as well. Two reminders are better than one, and theirs can’t be paused by your phone.
When you hit a limit
Stop, even if you’re winning. Especially if you’re winning, actually, because “I’ll just give a bit back and then stop” rarely ends where it was meant to. If you’re down, don’t top up. The money’s already spent. Topping up means you lose more on top of it.
If stopping at the limit keeps being hard, that’s worth noticing. The self-check quiz takes two minutes.