Information windows about risks during the game
Introduction
Risk warnings are a mandatory element of responsible gambling in licensed Australian casinos. They are designed to interrupt the game flow, remind of the chances of losing and encourage a pause. Pop up by timer, by the amount of bets or when losses are reached. Without their activation, any control system loses its effectiveness.
1. Types of warnings
1. Reality Checks
Appear after a specified interval (usually 15-60 min)
Contain: session time, bet amount, net result
Offer to "pause" or "continue playing"
2. Risk Warnings
Shown before entering a new type of game or when increasing the bet above the threshold- "You're playing a game with a negative expectation. Significant losses are possible"
- May require confirmation - click "I understand the risk"
3. Loss Warnings
Triggered when a predetermined total loss is reached (e.g. 80% of the daily limit)
Reported: "You lost $ X for today. We recommend taking a break"
4. Time warnings
In addition to reality checks, they can appear when the session limit is exceeded (for example, 120 minutes)
Notify about the imminent autotout or recommend to leave
2. Legislative framework
The ACMA "Controlled Gambling Marketing Code" obliges operators to implement pop-up risk alerts.
State licensing conditions (such as in Victoria and NSW) require the player to be given the choice of continuing to play or interrupting the session after each warning.
Industry standards (Responsible Gambling Council) describe the minimum set of data in the window: time, financial results, links to support.
3. Technical implementation
1. Interval or event
Interval: configured in the player's LC or casino admin panel (15-60 min).
Event: reaching a deposit, rate or loss limit.
2. Window format
Modal pop-up over game client (browser/app)- Required action: "OK," "Pause," "I understand" button
3. Lock logic
While the window is open - all bet buttons and menus are locked.
Some operators require you to enter a reason for continuing the game after confirmation.
4. Customization and personalization
The player in the "Responsible game" section can choose:- Reality check frequency (15-60 min)
- Loss warning threshold (percentage of daily limit)
- Timeout warning threshold
- Prevent alerts from being turned off completely
- Store player confirmation logs for reporting to the regulator
5. Practical recommendations
1. Minimum frequency 30 min
too frequent windows annoy, too rare - lose meaning.
2. Setting loss warning to 50-70% of the daily limit
allows you to interrupt the session in time to a critical loss level.
3. Require you to enter a reason for continuing
additionally increases awareness, forces you to stop and think.
4. Use in complex
combine reality checks, loss warnings and timeouts: this is a layered defense.
5. Reaction logging
record in your diary what you did after each window: continued the game or stopped.
Conclusion
Risk information windows are a simple but effective instant stop tool that, when set up correctly, guard against impulsive bets and excessive losses. It is important to combine different types of warnings, tightly control the threshold values and require confirmation of your motivation to continue. This is the only way these windows will become a real barrier, and not a formal license requirement.
