Reality checks in casino apps
Reality checks are on-screen reminders that tell you how long your gambling session has lasted, at an interval you choose, and you have to acknowledge each one before you can carry on. UK rules require them in online casino games, and they work best when you decide in advance what you'll do when the next one appears.
By the BestApps editorial team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Under the Commission's RTS 13B, you must be able to set how often a reality check appears, and you must acknowledge it before it leaves the screen.
- A reality check should offer a way to exit or log out and a link to your account history.
- Since 17 January 2025, online casino games must also show elapsed time and your net position throughout a session.
- Choose a short interval and a rule for yourself, such as stopping at the second check, so the reminder leads to a decision.
- Rule
- RTS 13B (reality checks)
- Shows
- Time elapsed since the session began
- To dismiss
- You must acknowledge it
- Should offer
- Exit or log out, and account history
- Time and net display
- All online casino games since 17 January 2025
- Free helpline
- 0808 8020 133
What reality checks are and why they exist
Time is easy to lose on a phone. Games run full screen, the device clock can disappear, and one more spin rarely feels like a decision. A reality check interrupts that flow at a set interval and shows how long you've been playing, so the choice to continue becomes a conscious one.
It's a small tool, but it targets one of the clearest signs of harm. The Commission lists time spent gambling among the indicators operators must watch. Reality checks put the same information in your hands. Our safer gambling hub explains how they fit with limits, time-outs and blocks, and our reality check glossary entry gives the one-line definition.
The UK rules on reality checks and time display
The rules are in the Gambling Commission's technical standard RTS 13 on time requirements and reality checks (opens in a new tab). They apply to remote gaming such as online casino games and bingo, but not peer-to-peer games like poker against other players.
| Standard | Requirement | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| RTS 13A | Full-screen apps that hide the device clock must show the time of day or elapsed time, wherever practicable | A clock or timer inside the app |
| RTS 13B | You must be able to set how often reality checks appear, from a pre-set list; any default must be the shortest interval | A frequency setting |
| RTS 13B | You must acknowledge the check before it leaves the screen, and can't place a new bet until you do | A pop-up that pauses play |
| RTS 13B guidance | The check should offer an option to exit or log out, and a link to account history | Buttons to leave or review spending |
| RTS 13C | Casino games must show elapsed session time in hours, minutes and seconds | A running session timer |
| RTS 2E | Net position must be displayed during a session | How much you're up or down |
The time and net-position displays were extended beyond slots to other online casino games on 17 January 2025, as the Commission set out in its announcement of new rules (opens in a new tab). Our game design rules page covers the full package.
How to set up reality checks in a casino app
Apps place the setting in different spots, so look for a reality check or session reminder option in your account settings or safer gambling area.
- Sign in and open your account or profile settings.
- Find the safer gambling section and look for reality checks or session reminders.
- Pick an interval from the list. Shorter is safer; the rules say any default must be the shortest option.
- Check whether the setting is saved to your account or needs setting each session. The rules allow either, but you must be told if it's per session.
- Start a game and note the time, so you know when the first check is due.
Our guide to reality checks in casino apps looks at the settings side, and there's a short answer to what a reality check is on a casino app if you want something to share.
Choosing an interval: what a session can cost
It helps to see what can happen between two checks. UK rules set a minimum of 2.5 seconds per slot game cycle and 5 seconds for other casino games, which puts a ceiling on how many rounds fit into a period. Expected loss equals total staked multiplied by the house edge; the figures below assume a slot with 96% return to player, so a 4% edge.
| Interval | Maximum spins at 2.5 seconds | Staked at 20p | Expected loss at 20p | Staked at £1 | Expected loss at £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 360 | £72 | £2.88 | £360 | £14.40 |
| 30 minutes | 720 | £144 | £5.76 | £720 | £28.80 |
| 60 minutes | 1,440 | £288 | £11.52 | £1,440 | £57.60 |
These are ceilings, because real play includes pauses, and actual results swing far above and below the expected figure. The point is the shape: double the time and you roughly double what you put through the game. On non-slot games the 5-second minimum halves the maximum rounds, but the same logic applies. Our game speed rules page explains those minimums, set out in the Commission's responsible product design standard (RTS 14) (opens in a new tab).
What to do when a reality check pops up
The pop-up only helps if you treat it as a decision point rather than an obstacle. Before tapping to continue, take a breath and look at three things.
- Time: is this longer than you meant to play?
- Money: what does the net position or account history show since you started?
- Mood: are you playing for fun, or to win back what's gone?
If any answer gives you pause, use the exit or log-out option the check should offer. A rule set in advance makes this easier, for example "I stop at the second check, whatever the balance". Chasing losses is one of the recognised signs of problem gambling, and a reality check is often the first moment you notice it.
How reality checks work in live and table games
In a multi-stage game, such as a blackjack hand where you're deciding whether to double down, the rules let you finish that decision before the check blocks new bets. After the hand, you must acknowledge the reminder before placing another stake.
Since autoplay has been banned for all online casino games from 17 January 2025, every round now needs a deliberate tap. That gives reality checks a natural place to land. Our autoplay ban page covers that rule.
Reality checks on your phone, outside the app
A casino app's reality check only knows about that app. Your phone can add a wider view. On Android, Digital Wellbeing app timers (opens in a new tab) give an app a daily allowance; when time runs out, Google says the app closes and its icon dims, and timers reset at midnight. On iPhone, Screen Time can show how long you spend in each app and set limits.
Our guides to blocking gambling apps on Android and on iPhone go through these settings. For a picture of how phone habits feed gambling, see phone habits and gambling.
Pairing reality checks with limits and breaks
Reminding you is not the same as stopping you. Pair reality checks with deposit limits, which cap the money, and a time-out for when you want the app to stop you for a while. Some apps also offer session limits, which end play after a set time; our session limit entry explains them.
To see how individual operators describe their tools, the safer gambling pages for PlayOJO, Ladbrokes and Casumo collect what each publishes.
If reality checks keep surprising you
If the time on the reminder often shocks you, or you find yourself tapping through without reading it, that's worth taking seriously. The National Gambling Helpline (opens in a new tab) on 0808 8020 133 is free, confidential and open 24/7, run by GamCare. Our help and support page lists NHS and peer support options.
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 in gambling?
A reality check is a pop-up that tells you how long your gambling session has lasted, appearing at an interval you choose. Under the Commission's RTS 13B you must acknowledge it before it disappears, and you can't place a new bet until you do. It should also offer a way to log out and a link to your account history. Our reality check glossary entry has a short summary.
Are reality checks mandatory in UK casino apps?
Operators must provide the facility: RTS 13B says customers must have easily accessible ways to set how often a reality check appears. It covers remote gaming such as online casino games and bingo, but not peer-to-peer games. Whether a check appears for you depends on the interval you set, so turn it on and pick a short one. See our UK rules hub for related standards.
How often should I set a reality check?
Every 15 to 30 minutes suits most people. At the 2.5-second minimum per slot spin, 30 minutes allows up to 720 spins, which is £144 staked at 20p a spin, with an expected loss of about £5.76 on a 96% RTP slot. Shorter intervals give you more chances to stop. Our budgeting for casino apps page helps you decide what a session should cost.
Do reality checks carry over between sessions?
They can. The rules allow reality checks to be set at account level, per product or both, and account settings should carry over to future sessions where possible. If an app can't carry them over, it must tell you that you need to set a check each session. Check the app's help pages to see which way yours works, and read our guide to reality checks in casino apps.
Can I skip or turn off a reality check?
You can't make a check disappear without acknowledging it, and the rules require operators to offer the facility. How you change the interval depends on the app's settings. If you find yourself tapping through checks without reading them, try a shorter interval or a firmer tool, such as a time-out, which stops play for a set period rather than just reminding you.
What's the difference between a reality check and a session limit?
One reminds and the other stops: a reality check tells you how long you've played, while a session limit ends play once a time you set is reached. Reality checks are required under RTS 13B, while session limits are an extra some apps offer. Using both gives you a reminder along the way and a hard stop at the end. Our session limit entry explains how they're usually described.
Why does my casino app show a clock and a timer?
Because UK rules require it. RTS 13A says full-screen apps that hide your phone's clock must show the time of day or elapsed time where practicable, and since 17 January 2025 online casino games must show elapsed session time and your net position. These sit alongside reality checks. Our game design rules page sets out the full package.
Do reality checks work in live casino games?
Yes, they apply to online casino games generally, including live dealer tables, though not peer-to-peer poker. If the check arrives mid-hand, the rules let you finish a decision in a multi-stage game, such as doubling down in blackjack, before new bets are blocked. Our live dealer entry explains how these games are streamed and played.
Related pages
Sources
- RTS 13: Time requirements and reality checks (opens in a new tab)
- RTS 14: Responsible product design (opens in a new tab)
- New rules boosting safety and consumer choice (opens in a new tab)
- Manage how you spend time on your Android phone with Digital Wellbeing (opens in a new tab)
- GamCare - Founder of the National Gambling Helpline (opens in a new tab)