All reputable foreign betting sites offer tools designed to help players gamble responsibly. For MGA-licensed operators, many of these tools are mandatory — the licence requires them to be in place and easily accessible. This guide explains what tools are available, how to use them, and where Irish players can turn for support.
Tools Available at Foreign Betting Sites
The following tools are standard at MGA-licensed bookmakers. Curaçao-licensed sites typically offer most of them voluntarily, though with less regulatory enforcement.
Deposit Limits
Set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week, or month. Once set, the limit applies immediately and cannot be increased without a mandatory waiting period (usually 24–72 hours). This is the most practical tool for controlling your spending and is available at all bookmakers on AbroadOdds.
Loss Limits
Loss limits cap how much you can lose within a defined period. Unlike deposit limits (which restrict input), loss limits restrict net losses. When you reach your limit, you are prevented from placing further bets until the period resets. This is particularly useful for in-play bettors who may deposit multiple times during a session.
Session Time Limits and Reality Checks
Session time limits restrict how long you can be logged in and actively betting in a single session. Reality checks provide periodic reminders of your session length and profit/loss during a session. Both tools interrupt the automatic, time-distorted state that extended betting sessions can create.
Cooling-Off Periods
A cooling-off period temporarily suspends your ability to bet for a defined period — typically 24 hours, one week, or one month. Your account remains active but you cannot place bets. This is less permanent than self-exclusion and useful when you need a short break without fully closing your account.
Self-Exclusion
Self-exclusion closes your account for a minimum period that you choose: typically 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, or permanently. During exclusion, all marketing and promotional communications are stopped, and you cannot reopen or access the account until the period expires. Permanent self-exclusion is irreversible.
Responsible Gambling Tools: Quick Reference
- Deposit limit — cap how much you can fund your account per day/week/month
- Loss limit — cap your net losses per day/week/month
- Session time limit — set a maximum duration per session
- Reality check — periodic on-screen alerts during sessions
- Cooling-off — short break from betting (account stays open)
- Self-exclusion — account closed for a defined or permanent period
How to Use Responsible Gambling Tools
All of these tools are accessible through the same route: your account settings, often under a section called "Responsible Gambling", "Player Protection", or "My Limits". Look for this in the navigation or your profile menu. For self-exclusion requests, most bookmakers provide an online form as well as a live chat or email route.
Set limits before you need them, not during a losing session. Deposit and loss limits set when you are thinking clearly are far more effective than trying to impose limits mid-session. If you want to lower a limit, it takes effect immediately. If you want to raise one, the waiting period is there specifically to prevent impulsive decisions.
Irish Support Resources
If you are concerned about your gambling or someone else's, these organisations provide free, confidential support to Irish players:
- Gambling Care Ireland — free counselling and support services
- GambleAware — self-assessment tool and educational resources
- Gamblers Anonymous Ireland — gamblers-anonymous.ie — weekly support groups
- National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1800 753 753 (free, 24/7)
Related Pages
- How to verify a foreign betting site is safe — full safety guide
- How to set deposit limits and self-exclude — step-by-step guide
- The Irish Gambling Regulatory Authority — what it means for players
Frequently Asked Questions
What deposit limits are available at foreign bookmakers?
MGA-licensed bookmakers are required to offer daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits. You set these in your account settings and they take effect immediately when lowering limits. Increases typically require a 24-hour cooling-off period. Curaçao-licensed sites vary — many offer deposit limits voluntarily but are not required to by their licence.
Can I self-exclude from a foreign betting site?
Yes. All MGA-licensed bookmakers must offer self-exclusion. You can request a temporary exclusion (typically 1–6 months, 1 year, or permanent). During exclusion your account is frozen, marketing is stopped, and you cannot reopen the account until the period expires. Permanent self-exclusion is irreversible.
What is a reality check?
A reality check is a notification that appears at set intervals (e.g., every 30, 60, or 90 minutes) while you are logged in and active on the site. It shows how long you have been playing and how much you have won or lost in that session. It is designed to interrupt automatic behaviour and encourage informed decisions about continuing.
Where can I get help with problem gambling in Ireland?
Gamblers Anonymous Ireland (gamblers-anonymous.ie) runs free support groups across the country. Gambling Care Ireland (gamblingcare.ie) provides free counselling services. The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1800 753 753. GambleAware (gambleaware.org) provides online resources and a self-assessment tool.
Sources and support organisations: