Preventive measures against gambling abuse

1. Financial barriers

Separate "entertainment" account: create a virtual card or wallet with a fixed limit in the bank that is not available for overdraft.
Operator limits: activate day and week deposits, stop loss and break profit for the session in your personal account.
Auto-payment of reserves: regularly transfer a fixed amount to savings or to a "rainy day" account before planning a game.

2. Time management

Timer-alarm: third-party Pomodoro timer (25/5) or built-in auto-timeout for 30-60 minutes.
Daily time limit: no more than 2-3 hours of betting per day, with mandatory breaks of at least 10 minutes every 30 minutes of the game.
The rule of "pause after a series": after three consecutive wins or losses, take a long pause (at least 1 hour).

3. Technical tools

Gambling blockers: Gamban or BetBlocker on all devices.
Browser extensions: uBlock Origin or LeechBlock with a black list of casino domains.
VPN and DNS filters: OpenDNS FamilyShield for home network, blocking unwanted resources.

4. Psychological training

Player Diary: Record the date, budget, results and emotional state of each session.
The "10-minute pause" rule: Wait 10 minutes before each new bet to see if you're motivated.
Mindfulness: The daily 5-minute practice of focusing on breathing before the game reduces impulsivity.

5. Social support

Gaming partner: Arrange reminders with a friend or family member when trying to exceed limits.
Self-help groups: Gamblers Anonymous and the Gambling Help Online hotline (1800 858 858).
Family therapy: joint consultations restore trust and form a single rules of the game.

6. Self-exclusion and pauses

Self-exclusion: activation of a temporary or lifetime ban on the operator's platform.
Forced cool-down: forced blocking for 24-72 hours after three consecutive game days.
Reserve codes: Keep passwords or unlock codes with a trustee so you can't undo restrictions.

7. Educational resources

Online courses: modules on financial literacy and stress management on Gambling Help Online.
Webinars and articles: Follow regulatory advice (Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, GambleAware).
Case analysis: Study other people's mistakes and successes to adopt best practices and avoid other people's traps.

These preventive measures form a reliable defense: financial and time barriers, technical restrictions, psychological techniques and support for loved ones allow you to play consciously, without the risk of overspending, time and emotions.