Limits and self-exclusion: locks you set once
A good limit is chosen before you play, not halfway through a losing streak. This page is the practical half of our responsible gambling guide: how to arrive at the right numbers, in which order to switch each lock on in a Spinwiz account, and what to do when the problem is no longer one website. Which options exist and how quickly they take effect depends on the operator and your account — check the profile area or ask support before relying on them.
Deposit limit: turn your budget into a number
Start with your monthly entertainment budget — what is left once housing, bills, food and transport are covered. Say that leaves 200 units of your currency for all leisure, and you are willing to spend half of it on gambling: 100 a month, or 25 a week. The figure is yours, not the operator's; the example only shows the reasoning.
- Prefer weekly to monthly. It stops one bad Saturday from swallowing the whole month.
- Set it before the first deposit. After seeing bonuses and games, numbers tend to creep up.
- Be suspicious of the urge to raise it. If the limit annoys you every week, it is doing its job.
Time and loss limits: the locks most people skip
A deposit limit controls what goes in; it does not control how long you play or how fast a balance disappears. That is why it pays to combine two more locks if the account offers them: a session reminder or time limit (30 to 60 minutes is a sensible start) and a loss limit per day or week. Your phone can help from the outside: app time limits, muted promotional notifications and unsubscribing from marketing emails and messages all cut down the invitations to play one more round.
Cool-off, self-exclusion or a national scheme?
| Measure | Reach | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cool-off | Your Spinwiz account, for a short period | Stepping back after a bad run |
| Self-exclusion with the operator | Spinwiz only, for a long period | Stopping with that operator for good |
| National self-exclusion scheme | Every operator licensed in your country | When the urge simply moves to another site |
If you have ever opened another site straight after closing an account, the last row is usually the one that helps.
Self-excluding step by step
- Withdraw your balance. Request a withdrawal of what is available and keep the receipts.
- Use the operator's tool or ask support. Pick the longest period you can live with; shorter blocks tend to end at the worst moment.
- Check for a national scheme. Your regulator's website will say whether one exists where you live and how to register. Remember that such schemes only cover operators licensed there — another reason to check the licence in the site footer against the regulator's register.
- Close the side doors. Delete betting apps and shortcuts, leave tipster groups and turn off gambling ads where your platforms allow it.
When a lock is not enough
If gambling still runs your day despite the limits, talk to someone. Gambling Therapy offers free, confidential online support for players and families, and many countries have a national helpline or public health service as well. You do not need to hit rock bottom to ask for help; asking early is cheaper in every sense.