How reality checks work in casino apps
Reality checks in casino apps are on-screen reminders that show how long you've been playing and won't go away until you acknowledge them. UK-licensed apps must let you choose how often they appear. This guide explains what the reminder shows, the rule behind it, how to pick an interval and how your phone's own tools can back it up.
By the BestApps editorial team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- A reality check shows the time elapsed since your session began and must be acknowledged before it disappears.
- You choose how often it appears; the Gambling Commission's RTS 13 standard requires that control.
- No new game should start until you've acknowledged the reminder.
- Casino games must also show elapsed time and your net position throughout a session.
- Shorter intervals give more chances to stop; pair them with a phone app timer for a firm cut-off.
- What it shows
- Time elapsed since the session began
- Who sets frequency
- You, at any time
- To dismiss
- You must acknowledge it
- Rule
- RTS 13B
- Elapsed time and net spend on screen
- Casino games since 17 January 2025
What reality checks in casino apps actually do
Time behaves strangely during a gambling session. Spins and hands come in a steady rhythm, phones often hide the clock in full-screen games, and twenty minutes can feel like five. A reality check interrupts that by putting a message on screen at intervals you choose, telling you how long you've been playing.
The Gambling Commission defines it simply: a display of the time elapsed since the session began, which you must acknowledge to remove. It's one of the safer gambling tools found in casino apps, alongside deposit limits and time-outs. Our glossary entry for reality check has the short definition.
The UK rule behind reality checks: RTS 13
The requirements sit in the Commission's RTS 13 standard on time and reality checks (opens in a new tab), last updated on 21 January 2025. It has three parts, and each covers a different kind of time awareness.
| Part | Requirement | What you notice in an app |
|---|---|---|
| 13A | Full-screen apps that hide the device clock must show the time of day or elapsed time where practicable | A clock or timer inside the game screen |
| 13B | You must be able to set how often a reality check appears; you must acknowledge it to clear it | A pop-up at your chosen interval |
| 13C | Elapsed time shown for the whole of a casino session (not peer-to-peer poker) | A running timer during play |
RTS 13B covers remote gaming, including bingo, plus instant win and high-frequency lotteries. It doesn't cover sports betting, which is one reason a combined sportsbook and casino app may treat the two sides differently. The broader rule set is summarised on our game design rules page.
What you see when a reality check appears
The Commission's guidance describes what a good reminder should include, though the look varies by app. Expect some or all of these:
- The time elapsed since your session began, which is the core requirement.
- A way to leave the session or log out straight from the reminder.
- A link to your account history, so you can see what you've spent.
- A button to acknowledge and carry on, which you have to press before the next game.
The guidance allows the reminder to appear at the end of a game rather than mid-spin, but you can't commit new money until you've acknowledged it. There are sensible exceptions for decisions inside a round already under way, such as splitting or doubling in blackjack. The point is a natural pause, not a broken hand.
Account-level, game-level and hybrid reminders
RTS 13 lets operators build reality checks in different ways, and that affects how much you have to set up. The Commission calls the account-level approach the optimum, because one setting carries across sessions.
| Approach | How it works | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Account level | One reminder setting carries across sessions and products | Set it once; it should apply next time you log in |
| Product level | Each game session has its own reminder | You may need to set it again for each game |
| Hybrid | Separate reminders for groups of products | Check settings for each area, such as slots and live casino |
Where several products run in one session, they share one timer, which starts with the first product you play. If the app can't remember your preference, the guidance says it should tell you to set it each time. A quick look at PlayOJO's safer gambling tools, or the equivalent page for any other app, should show which approach it uses.
Choosing a reality check interval that works
Shorter is safer. The guidance says that where an app offers a default interval, it must be set at the minimum of its range, so the starting point should already be the most frequent option. Resist the urge to stretch it because the pop-ups feel annoying; that friction is the point.
It helps to translate minutes into money. UK rules require at least 2.5 seconds per slot spin and at least 5 seconds per round for other casino games, as set out in the Commission's RTS 14 on responsible product design (opens in a new tab). Those are minimums, so the figures below are the most a session could cover, not a typical pace.
| Interval | Max slot spins | Max slot stakes | Max other casino rounds | Max other stakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 360 | £180 | 180 | £90 |
| 30 minutes | 720 | £360 | 360 | £180 |
| 60 minutes | 1,440 | £720 | 720 | £360 |
Expected loss is stake × house edge. Take European roulette, with a house edge of about 2.7%: £360 of 50p bets in an hour carries an expected loss of about £9.72. A slot with a 4% edge over £720 of spins carries an expected loss of £28.80. Real sessions swing well above and below these averages, and losses are the likely outcome over time. The house edge by game page has more figures.
How to turn on reality checks in a casino app
Menu names vary, so look for reality check, session reminder or time reminder options in your account settings or safer gambling area. The rules require the controls to be easy to reach and changeable at any time.
- Sign in and open your account settings or the app's safer gambling section.
- Find the reality check or session reminder option.
- Choose the shortest interval you can live with; 15 or 30 minutes suits most people.
- Save, then check the app's note on whether the setting applies to your whole account or just one game.
- Start a game and confirm the timer or clock is visible on screen.
- If the setting doesn't carry over to your next login, set it again or ask live chat whether an account-wide option exists.
Elapsed time and net position on every casino screen
Reality checks are periodic. Two other rules give you a constant view. Since 17 January 2025, online casino games other than peer-to-peer poker must show elapsed time throughout the session (RTS 13C) and your net position, meaning wins minus losses, in real time. Slots have had both displays since 31 October 2021.
The same January 2025 changes banned autoplay for all online casino games and stopped players running several games at once. Our pages on game speed rules on mobile and why there is no autoplay on UK casino apps explain those changes. The reminder works best alongside them: the on-screen figures show where you are, and the pop-up asks whether you want to carry on.
Phone tools that back up in-app reminders
The pop-up asks; it doesn't stop you. If you want a hard cut-off, your phone can add one. Android's Digital Wellbeing lets you set an app timer, and Google's Digital Wellbeing help page (opens in a new tab) says that when time runs out, the app closes and its icon dims. Timers reset at midnight. Focus mode can also pause chosen apps and their notifications.
Our guides to blocking casino apps with Digital Wellbeing and blocking casino apps with Screen Time cover the set-up on each platform. Turning off casino app notifications helps too, since a nudge to open the app can start a session you hadn't planned.
Reality checks in partner apps: what's published
Every UK-licensed casino app has to offer reality checks under RTS 13B, but store listings rarely name them. Here's what the listings and help pages for five apps say about session and time tools.
| App | Tools named publicly | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| PlayOJO | Safe Mate, Take A Break, deposit limits; help page adds time and loss limits and OJO Safeguard | PlayOJO tools |
| 10bet | Deposit limits, breaks and self-exclusion in account settings | 10bet tools |
| Coral | Safer gambling tools (not itemised in the listing) | Coral tools |
| Ladbrokes | Not itemised in the listing | Ladbrokes tools |
| Casumo | Not itemised in the listing | Casumo tools |
None of these listings uses the words reality check, so open each app's safer gambling area to find the setting. If you can't, ask support where it is; the rules say it must be easy to access.
What to do when a reality check surprises you
If a reminder says you've been playing far longer than you thought, that's useful information rather than a telling-off. A few practical responses:
- Stop at the reminder rather than at the end of the next bonus or the next hand.
- Check your account history and compare the session's spend with your budget.
- Lower your deposit limit if the session went over what you planned; decreases apply at once.
- Take a short time-out if you'd rather not be tempted for a day or a week.
- Shorten the reality check interval for next time.
If reminders keep surprising you, or you find yourself dismissing them without reading, it may be worth reading about phone habits and gambling. The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free and open 24/7, and GamCare offers live chat and WhatsApp (opens in a new tab) too. More tools are listed in our guides hub and on the reality checks page in our safer gambling section.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is a reality check on a casino app?
A reality check is a pop-up showing how long you've been playing since your session began, which you must acknowledge before it disappears. UK-licensed apps must let you choose how often it appears under the Gambling Commission's RTS 13 standard. Good versions also link to your account history and let you log out straight away. Our short answer on what a reality check is sums it up, and the glossary entry defines it.
Are reality checks compulsory in UK casino apps?
Offering them is compulsory, but you choose the interval. RTS 13B requires remote gaming operators to let customers set how often a reality check appears and to make the reminder something you must acknowledge. Where an app has a default interval, the guidance says it should be the shortest in its range. Sports betting isn't covered by this part of the rule. The game design rules page explains related requirements.
How often should a reality check appear?
Every 15 to 30 minutes suits most people, and shorter is safer. At the minimum slot speed of 2.5 seconds a spin, 30 minutes allows up to 720 spins, which at 50p is £360 staked. Seeing the time at that point gives a natural moment to stop. Choose an interval before you start playing, not mid-session. The house edge by game page helps turn time into expected cost.
Can a reality check stop me playing?
No, a reality check only pauses play until you acknowledge it; it doesn't end your session. For a firmer stop, combine it with a phone app timer, which closes the app when time runs out on Android, or with a time-out, which locks the account for a set period. Our guide to taking a time-out in a casino app explains the options from 24 hours to six weeks.
Does a reality check carry over between games?
It depends on how the app builds it. The Commission's guidance prefers account-level reminders that carry across sessions, but it also allows game-level or hybrid set-ups. Several products in one session share one timer that starts with the first game played. If your setting doesn't carry over, the app should tell you to set it each time. See safer gambling tools in casino apps for how other tools behave.
Why does a casino app show a clock and a timer during games?
Because UK rules require it. Full-screen apps that hide your phone's clock must show the time of day or elapsed time where practicable, under RTS 13A. Since 17 January 2025, online casino games must also show elapsed time and your net position throughout a session; slots have done so since 31 October 2021. These sit alongside reality checks. Read more on game speed rules.
How can I see how much I've lost during a session?
Look at the net position shown on the game screen, which UK rules require for casino games, and at the account history link many reality checks include. Your account's transaction history shows deposits and withdrawals over longer periods. Our guides to checking your net deposits in an app and how much you've lost on a casino app show where to find each figure.
Do reality checks work on both iPhone and Android?
Yes, because reality checks are built into the casino account and games, not the phone's operating system. The same rules apply whether you play on an iPhone, an Android phone or a mobile browser. The phone tools that back them up differ, though: Android has Digital Wellbeing app timers, while iPhones have Screen Time. Our guides to Screen Time and Digital Wellbeing explain the set-up.