Making a personal game plan: control and responsibility

1. Goals and motivation

Define the main goal: to preserve entertainment without loss, limit expenses or completely abandon the game for the period of rehabilitation.
Write down the motivation: why you want to control the game (family, finances, health). Having a clear reason strengthens determination.

2. Analysis of current habits

1. Recording sessions

Keep a diary: date, start/end time, sum of bets and deposits, result.
2. Identifying triggers

Note the situations, thoughts and emotions preceding the desire to play (stress, boredom, communication with friends).
3. Risk patterns

Identify the days and hours with the greatest tendency to overspend.

3. Setting limits and schedule

Financial limits

Daily, weekly and monthly budgets: hard fix in the operator's personal account and third-party trackers.
Time frame

Schedule game sessions in specific windows (for example, no more than 60 minutes after 18:00) and enable reality checks.
Frequency

Determine how many sessions per week are allowed (1-2) and be sure to take breaks.

4. Self-control strategies

1. Pause technique

Before you bet, delay the decision for 10 minutes: do breathing exercise or short physical activity.
2. Alternative actions

List of "substitutes": walking, talking with a friend, hobbies. Use it right away if you want to play.
3. Involving the environment

Agree with a loved one about the "stop" signal: if you lose control, call or write to him.

5. Using safe play tools

Self-exclusion and deposit/rate limits in the operator's personal account.
Reality checks and pre-commitment functions: configure time and expense alerts.
Third-party apps: budget trackers and calendar reminders.

6. Disruption Response Plan

1. Emergency measures

Activate the 24-hour self-exclusion or contact the 1800 858 858 hotline.
2. Cause analysis

Shortly after the breakdown, write down what exactly went wrong: what emotion or event became the detonator.
3. Plan adjustment

Reduce limits, revise schedules, increase outside support.

7. Regular monitoring and review

Weekly report

Compare actual spending and game time with planned. Make a note of the deviations and their causes.
Monthly analysis

Assess progress on goals and motivation: what succeeded, what needs improvement.
Adjusting goals

If the goals are successful, you can gradually tighten the limits or increase the intervals between sessions.

8. Support and Resources

Hotline 1800 858 858 - 24-hour psychological assistance.
Gambling Help Online - online chat, self-assessment tests and training modules.
Mutual aid groups: Gamblers Anonymous, Dual Recovery for sharing experiences.

A systematic personal game plan with clear goals, tight limits, self-control strategies and regular assessment allows you to keep excitement as safe entertainment and prevent the development of addiction.