Reality Checks: Tracking Time and Money While You Play
A reality check is a reminder that interrupts play at a set interval and shows how long you have been playing and, on many sites, how much you have won or lost in the session. It does not stop play. Its job is to break the continuous flow of spins or hands so you can make a deliberate decision to stop or continue.
This page explains what reality checks show, where to find them at online casinos and betting sites, how to set up the same thing with phone tools when a site does not offer it, and a routine for responding.
What a Reality Check Shows
| Element | Typical content |
|---|---|
| Session time | Minutes since login or since the last reminder |
| Net result | Total stakes minus total winnings in the session (on some sites) |
| Options | Continue, view account history, log out, sometimes set a limit |
| Interval | Chosen by you, commonly 15, 30 or 60 minutes |
A reminder with the net result is more useful than one showing only time. If a site shows time only, check the transaction history when the reminder appears.
Where to Find Them
| Operator type | Availability |
|---|---|
| Australian-licensed betting sites | Responsible gambling tools are required under the National Framework (deposit limits, activity statements); session reminders vary by provider |
| Offshore online casinos | Many offer reality checks in account settings under “Responsible gaming” or “Limits”; availability and options vary |
| Pub and club pokies | Some states require on-screen information; check your state’s rules |
Monthly activity statements, required for licensed Australian wagering providers since 31 July 2022, act as a monthly reality check: they show deposits, wins and losses for the month.
Turning a Reality Check On
- Log in and open account settings.
- Find “Responsible gaming”, “Safer gambling” or “Limits”.
- Select reality check or session reminder and choose an interval. 30 minutes is a practical default for pokies; 60 minutes for slower games such as blackjack.
- Save and confirm by playing until the first reminder appears.
- If the option is missing, ask live chat whether the casino offers it. If not, use the phone tools below.
Doing It Yourself With Phone Tools
| Tool | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Timer or alarm | Start a timer before every session; put the phone out of reach so you must get up to stop it |
| iPhone Screen Time | Set an app limit for your browser or casino app; the limit screen appears when time runs out |
| Android Digital Wellbeing | Set an app timer; the app pauses when the timer ends |
| Calendar block | Schedule gambling time with a fixed end; no session outside it |
| Session log | Write start balance, start time, end balance and end time for every session |
These work at any site and cannot be changed by the operator.
What to Do When the Reminder Appears
A simple routine makes the reminder effective:
- Stop the current spin or hand. Do not decide while a round is running.
- Read the numbers. Time played and net result.
- Compare with your plan. Is the session budget or time limit reached?
- Decide out loud or in writing: stop, or continue for a fixed period with a fixed amount.
- If you are behind and want to win it back, stop. Chasing losses is one of the nine signs measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index; see signs of problem gambling.
Why Time Matters Online
Online pokies can run hundreds of spins per hour and there is no closing time. At A$1 per spin and 600 spins per hour on a 96% RTP game, the expected cost is about A$24 per hour; doubling the time doubles the expected cost. Losing track of time is the most direct route to overspending, which is why reality checks pair well with session limits. See setting limits and time management tips.
Reality Checks Versus Other Tools
| Tool | Stops play? | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Reality check | No, it reminds | Awareness during a session |
| Session limit | Yes, at the set time | Hard time cap |
| Deposit limit | Stops new deposits | Money cap |
| Time-out | Yes, for a set period | Short break; see cooling-off |
| Self-exclusion | Yes, for months or longer | Stopping gambling; see self-exclusion |
If reminders keep appearing and you keep clicking “continue”, move up the table to a firmer tool.
Why Reminders Get Ignored
- The interval is too long. A 2-hour reminder arrives after most of the damage is done.
- The reminder shows time only. Without the net result, the decision is made on feel.
- It appears mid-feature. Players click through to finish a bonus round and then keep going.
- Multiple tabs or sites. A reminder on one site does not cover another.
- Alcohol or fatigue. Both weaken the pause the reminder is designed to create.
Fixes: shorten the interval, combine it with a hard session limit, play one site at a time, and avoid gambling late at night or after drinking.
A Session Log You Can Copy
| Date | Site | Start time | End time | Start balance (A$) | End balance (A$) | Net (A$) | Within plan? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov | Site A | 8:00pm | 8:45pm | 20.00 | 8.50 | -11.50 | Yes |
| 10 Nov | Site A | 8:00pm | 10:10pm | 20.00 | 0.00 | -20.00 | No, over time |
Review the log at the end of each month alongside your bank statement. Our guide to tracking your spending explains how to reconcile the two.
This guide is part of our responsible gambling section, which lists every tool and support service in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
A reminder that pauses play at an interval you choose and shows how long you have been playing and, on many sites, your net result for the session.
No. They interrupt play and ask you to decide. Use a session limit or time-out if you want play to stop automatically.
Every 30 minutes is a practical setting for pokies and other fast games; every 60 minutes for slower table games.
Use a phone timer, iPhone Screen Time or Android Digital Wellbeing app limits, which work at any site.
They serve a similar purpose over a longer period. Licensed Australian betting providers must send them monthly, showing deposits, wins and losses.
If reminders are not enough to keep your gambling within your plan, free and confidential support is available 24/7 from Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858. Gambling is for adults 18+ only.