Reality checks: stay aware of time and money spent

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ByLucas Portela
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Quick Answer

Reality checks are pop-up reminders that show how long you have played and how much you have spent. Many operators let you choose the interval in the safer gambling settings. Since 17 January 2025, online operators must also show your net spend and time spent in real time.

Reality checks are reminders that pop up while you play, showing how long you have been online and how much you have spent. They give you a moment to decide whether to carry on, and used properly they are one of the simplest safer gambling tools.

What reality checks and real-time displays show

Many operators let you pick how often a reality check appears, usually in the safer gambling settings of your account. Since 17 January 2025, online operators must also show your net spend and time spent gambling in real time, under the Gambling Commission’s game design rules, so the numbers are visible even without a pop-up. The same rules ban autoplay and slam stops, and casino spins must take at least 5 seconds, which slows the pace of play and gives you more time to think.

How to set up reality checks

  1. Open the safer gambling or responsible gambling settings.
  2. Choose a reality check interval that suits you, such as every 30 minutes.
  3. Save the setting and check that it appears.
  4. Treat each reminder as a prompt to stop, not just to click away.

Making reality checks work for you

A reminder helps only if you act on it. Set a phone alarm as a back-up and leave when it rings, even if you are in the middle of a session, then check your net spend before you decide whether to come back. Pair the reminders with a deposit limit and a budget you set before you start, because a reminder tells you where you are while a limit and a budget decide where you stop. If reminders keep surprising you, or you notice that you click them away without reading, take that as a signal to take a break or talk to someone.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn reality checks off?

That depends on the operator. If you can switch them off, consider leaving them on, because they work best when you cannot talk yourself out of them in the moment.

Do reality checks work?

They only help if you act on them. Set a phone alarm as a back-up and leave when it rings, then look at your net spend before you decide whether to come back.

What is net spend?

It is the difference between what you have staked and what you have won back. Check it as often as the clock, because it shows the real cost of a session better than your balance does.