How to take a time-out on a casino app
How to take a time-out on a casino app: open the account menu, go to Safer Gambling or Responsible Gambling, choose Time-Out or Take a Break, pick a period such as 24 hours, a week or a month, and confirm. The account locks for the whole period and can’t be reopened early. It takes about a minute and works the same on iPhone and Android.
By the Best Casino Apps UK team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- A time-out is a short break, usually from 24 hours up to six weeks, set in the app’s safer gambling menu.
- Once confirmed, it can’t be cancelled early, even by contacting support.
- It covers one casino account. Other apps need their own break, or use GAMSTOP for a longer block.
- For six months or more, use self-exclusion rather than a time-out.
- Free, confidential help is available 24/7 on the National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133.
- Typical lengths
- 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month, up to 6 weeks
- Where
- Safer Gambling or Responsible Gambling menu
- End it early?
- No
- Covers
- That one casino account
- Longer break
- Self-exclusion, 6 months or more
- Helpline
- 0808 8020 133, free, 24/7
How to take a time-out on a casino app
Every UK-licensed casino app has a break option, and it’s usually two or three taps from the account menu. The wording varies, so look for Time-Out, Take a Break, Cool-Off or Break from Play.
- Open the casino app and log in.
- Tap the account icon, your name or your balance to open the account menu.
- Choose Safer Gambling, Responsible Gambling or Gambling Controls.
- Tap Time-Out or Take a Break.
- Pick the length of the break from the list.
- Read the summary, which tells you when the break ends, and tap Confirm. Some apps ask for your password first.
- The app logs you out. Trying to log back in shows a message with the end date.
If you can’t find the option, the casino’s live chat or email support can set it for you. Our overview of casino app limits shows where the other safer gambling tools sit.
Where the break option sits in partner casino apps
Store listings give some clues about how each app names its tools. Menu layouts change with updates, so treat this as a starting point.
| App | What the listing or operator says | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| PlayOJO | Listing names Take A Break, Safe Mate and deposit limits | Account menu > safer gambling tools |
| 10bet | Listing says deposit limits, breaks and self-exclusion are in account settings | Account > settings > gambling controls |
| Coral | Listing mentions safer gambling tools | Account menu > Safer Gambling |
| Ladbrokes | Same operator as Coral (LC International Limited) | Account menu > Safer Gambling |
| Casumo | Not detailed in the listing | Account menu > safer gambling settings |
Each partner also has its own page on our site describing the tools in more detail, for example PlayOJO safer gambling and 10bet safer gambling.
Choosing how long your time-out lasts
UK casinos generally offer fixed breaks of 24 hours, one week and one month, and some allow any period up to six weeks. Anything longer is handled as self-exclusion, which has a six-month minimum. A few points help when choosing:
- Match the break to the trigger. If a payday or a big football weekend tends to lead to spending you regret, a break that covers it is more useful than a round number.
- Err on the longer side. A break can’t be shortened, but you can always take another one when it ends.
- Think about why you want it. If you’re taking a break because you’ve lost more than you meant to, or you’re thinking about winning it back, a longer step such as self-exclusion may suit you better.
- Pair it with a limit. Setting a lower deposit limit before the break means it’s waiting for you when the account reopens.
What happens to your account during a time-out
A time-out stops gambling, but your account and money stay where they are.
- You can’t play or deposit. Logging in either fails or opens a restricted screen.
- Your balance is safe. Money in the account remains yours. Many operators let you log in or contact support to withdraw it during the break; ask if you’d like the balance out of reach.
- Pending withdrawals continue. A withdrawal already requested carries on being processed, and UK rules have banned reversing withdrawals since October 2021, so it can’t be pulled back to play.
- Marketing should stop. You shouldn’t receive promotional emails, texts or app notifications about gambling during the break. If you do, tell the casino and turn off marketing in your marketing preferences.
- Your other limits stay in place. Deposit limits and reality checks carry on after the break.
When the time-out ends
A time-out ends automatically at the date and time shown when you confirmed it; you don’t need to contact anyone. Until then it can’t be lifted, even if you call customer support with a good reason, because the point is to remove the in-the-moment decision. This is different from self-exclusion, which at the end of its minimum period stays in force until you actively ask to return.
When you log back in, it’s worth checking your limits, reality check interval and marketing settings before playing. If you notice you’re counting down the days, or reaching for the app the moment the break ends, that’s a useful sign that a longer break might help. Our guide on cooling-off periods explains how waiting periods work for other changes.
Time-out, self-exclusion, GAMSTOP and closure compared
| Tool | Length | Covers | Can you reverse it early? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time-out | 24 hours up to about 6 weeks | One casino account | No |
| Self-exclusion with the casino | 6 months to 5 years | That operator, and often its sister brands | No |
| GAMSTOP | 6 months, 1 year or 5 years | All GB-licensed online gambling sites and apps | No |
| Account closure | Indefinite | One casino account | Yes, by asking to reopen |
If you’re unsure which step fits, our comparison of account closure vs self-exclusion goes through the differences, and the time-out glossary entry gives the short definition.
Taking a break from several casino apps at once
A time-out applies to the account you set it on. If you have accounts with three casinos, you need three breaks, and opening a new account elsewhere during a time-out isn’t blocked. Some operators run several brands from one company; Coral and Ladbrokes, for example, are both operated by LC International Limited. Ask the casino whether a break on one brand covers the others, rather than assuming it does.
If you’d like a break from all online gambling, GAMSTOP covers every GB-licensed site and app, but its shortest period is six months. Our page on GAMSTOP and casino apps explains how it works on a phone.
Backing up your break with phone and bank settings
The casino’s time-out is the tool that actually locks the account. Phone and bank settings add a layer that makes reaching for gambling apps harder in the first place.
- Delete the app or remove it from your home screen for the length of the break.
- On iPhone, use Screen Time to limit or block gambling apps; on Android, use Digital Wellbeing app timers. Our guides for iPhone and Android give the steps.
- Turn on your bank’s gambling block if it has one, which stops card payments to gambling merchants. See bank gambling blocks.
- Mute or unsubscribe from casino emails so nothing lands in your inbox.
When a time-out may not be enough
Short breaks suit people who want to reset a habit or step away during a busy spell. They’re less suited to gambling that feels hard to control. Signs include spending more than you can afford, borrowing to gamble, hiding it from people close to you, or feeling anxious when you can’t play. Our page on signs a casino app is affecting you goes through them.
Free, confidential support is available. The National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day, and GamCare offers live chat and counselling. The NHS runs specialist gambling clinics, which you can usually contact directly. Our gambling support services guide lists them with what each offers.
Worried about someone else’s casino app use?
You can’t set a time-out on another adult’s account; casinos only accept the request from the account holder. What helps more is a calm conversation, information about the tools on this page, and support for yourself. GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline support family members and friends as well as people who gamble. Our guide on talking to someone about gambling apps has practical suggestions.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel a time-out on a casino app early?
No. Once you confirm a time-out, the casino keeps the account locked until the end date and time, and customer support can’t lift it on request. That’s deliberate: the break is meant to hold even if you change your mind in the moment. When it ends, the account reopens automatically. If you think you’ll be tempted to open an account elsewhere, consider adding a bank gambling block. Our cooling-off period entry explains similar waiting rules for limits.
How long can a casino time-out last?
UK casinos usually offer breaks of 24 hours, one week or one month, and some let you choose any period up to about six weeks. For anything longer, the casino will point you to self-exclusion, which starts at six months and can run to five years. GAMSTOP’s options are six months, one year or five years and cover every GB-licensed site. If you’re not sure, pick a longer break; you can’t shorten it, but you can take another. See self-exclusion for the longer option.
Can I withdraw my money during a time-out?
In most cases you can still get your money out, though the route varies. Some apps let you log in to a restricted screen with only the withdrawal option, and others ask you to contact customer support. Any withdrawal requested before the break carries on as normal and can’t be reversed under UK rules. If you’d rather not have money sitting in the account, ask support to send it back to your payment method. Our guide to pending withdrawals explains typical timings.
Does a time-out on one casino app stop me using others?
No, a time-out only covers the account you set it on. Other casino apps, even ones you already have accounts with, carry on as normal unless you set a break on each. Some companies run several brands, so ask whether yours applies across them. To block all GB-licensed online gambling in one go, register with GAMSTOP, which lasts at least six months. Phone-level blocks also help across all apps. See gambling blocking apps compared for the options.
Will I still get casino emails and notifications during a time-out?
You shouldn’t receive gambling marketing while you’re on a break. Casinos are expected to stop promotional messages to customers who have chosen to take a break, so if offers keep arriving, contact support and ask them to stop. You can also turn off marketing yourself in the account’s communication settings and mute the app’s notifications in your phone’s settings. Account messages, such as withdrawal confirmations, may still come through. Our casino app notifications guide explains how to mute them.
Is a time-out the same as self-exclusion?
No. A time-out is a short break, usually up to about six weeks, that ends automatically. Self-exclusion lasts at least six months, and at the end of the period it stays in place until you actively ask to return, at which point a further cooling-off period applies. Self-exclusion also closes the account to new play and often covers an operator’s sister brands. If you’re stepping away because gambling is causing harm, self-exclusion is the stronger choice. Our how to self-exclude guide covers it.
Can I take a time-out from just one type of game?
Some casinos offer product-level breaks, for example from slots or live casino only, while keeping other products open. This depends entirely on the operator, so look in the safer gambling menu or ask support. Combined apps such as those offering both sport and casino may let you block the casino side alone. If you find one game type is where you lose track of time, a short reality check interval on that product can also help. See session limits on casino apps for related tools.
Where can I get help if I’m struggling with gambling?
The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, every day. GamCare runs the helpline and offers live chat and counselling, and the NHS has specialist gambling clinics for people affected by gambling harm, including family members. GAMSTOP lets you block all GB-licensed online gambling for six months or longer. You don’t have to wait until things are serious to ask for support. Our responsible gambling page brings these services together.