Limits and self-exclusion: what covers what
Many players assume that excluding themselves once stops all gambling. In practice each tool covers a specific area, and the gaps between them are where problems return. This page explains the main tools, their reach, and how to combine them.
Tools inside your account
| Tool | What it does | Reach |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Caps what you can pay in per period | That operator only |
| Loss limit | Caps net losses per period | That operator only |
| Time-out | Locks the account for a short period | That operator only |
| Self-exclusion | Closes the account for months or permanently | That operator only |
Which of these Duell offers, how long an exclusion lasts and whether it can be reversed are set out in the operator's terms. Read them before you need them.
National registers
Some countries run national self-exclusion registers that bar a person from every operator licensed in that country. They are powerful, but they cover only the operators that regulator licenses. An operator licensed elsewhere is usually not part of them. If you rely on a national register, assume it does not reach offshore sites.
Closing the gaps
Blocking software such as Gamban blocks gambling sites and apps on your phone and computer, including international ones. Bank controls: some banks let you block gambling transactions on your cards — ask yours whether it does. Support: Gambling Therapy offers free online support, and Gamblers Anonymous runs meetings in many countries.
How to request self-exclusion properly
- Use the tool in the account settings if it exists; otherwise write to support.
- Ask for written confirmation of the period and that marketing will stop.
- Withdraw any remaining balance first, or ask how it will be paid out.
- Keep the confirmation, with date and time.
A rule worth copying
Many regulated markets make lowering a limit take effect immediately while raising it only after a delay. Apply that to yourself even where no rule forces it: lower fast, raise slowly, and never raise a limit during a session. See also responsible gambling for warning signs.