Cooling-Off Period Calculator
Calculate gambling cooling-off periods, timeout durations, and self-exclusion timelines across EU countries. Understand mandatory waiting periods for limit changes and when you can resume gambling after voluntary breaks.
Calculate Waiting Period After Limit Change
When you request to increase limits or remove restrictions, most EU jurisdictions require a mandatory cooling-off period before the change takes effect. Select your country and action to see the required waiting period.
Waiting Period Results
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Your change will take effect on this date.
Cooling-off periods are designed to prevent impulsive decisions made during gambling sessions. They give players time to reconsider protective measures before removing them.
Calculate Self-Exclusion End Date
Enter your self-exclusion start date and duration to calculate when you can apply to have your account reactivated. Note that most jurisdictions require an additional verification process after the exclusion period ends.
Self-Exclusion Timeline
After this date, you may apply to have your exclusion lifted.
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Cooling-Off Periods by EU Country
Compare mandatory cooling-off and waiting periods across different EU gambling jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly between countries and types of changes.
| Country | Deposit Limit Increase | Loss Limit Increase | Timeout Early End | Min. Self-Exclusion |
|---|
Understanding Different Protection Periods
EU gambling regulations use various types of protective periods. Understanding the differences helps you choose appropriate player protection measures.
What it is: A mandatory waiting period before limit increases or restriction removals take effect.
Purpose: Prevents impulsive decisions to remove protective measures during gambling sessions. Gives players time to reconsider.
Key features:
- Applied automatically when requesting to loosen restrictions
- Reducing limits takes effect immediately (no cooling-off needed)
- Duration varies by jurisdiction (24 hours to 7 days)
- Cannot be bypassed or shortened
What it is: A short voluntary break from gambling, typically lasting 24 hours to 30 days.
Purpose: Allows players to take a break without full self-exclusion. Often used when feeling overwhelmed.
Key features:
- Player-selected duration (within regulated options)
- Cannot be reversed until period ends
- Usually applies only to the specific operator (not cross-operator)
- Account automatically reactivates after timeout ends
What it is: A formal exclusion from gambling, either at a single operator or through a national scheme covering all licensed operators.
Purpose: Strong intervention for players with gambling problems or who want to permanently stop gambling.
Key features:
- Minimum periods set by regulation (often 6-12 months)
- Cannot be lifted early in most jurisdictions
- National schemes (GAMSTOP, OASIS, CRUKS) cover all licensed operators
- Reactivation requires formal application and often a cooling-off process
- Some schemes offer permanent/indefinite options
What it is: A waiting period during which players cannot cancel a withdrawal request to continue gambling with those funds.
Purpose: Prevents players from impulsively canceling cashouts to chase losses.
Key features:
- Some jurisdictions prohibit withdrawal reversals entirely
- Others require a waiting period before reversal is allowed
- Best practice: No reversal option (funds locked for withdrawal)
- Germany requires immediate withdrawal processing with no reversal
When to Use Each Protection
| Situation | Recommended Protection | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Need a short break after a losing session | Timeout / Take-a-Break | 24-72 hours |
| Want to control spending while still playing | Deposit/Loss Limits | Ongoing |
| Concerned about gambling too much | Timeout or Short Self-Exclusion | 1 week - 6 months |
| Gambling causing problems in life | Self-Exclusion (National Scheme) | 6 months - 5 years |
| Decided to stop gambling permanently | Permanent Self-Exclusion | Indefinite |
What Are Cooling-Off Periods in Gambling?
Cooling-off periods are mandatory waiting times required by gambling regulators before certain player protection changes can take effect. These periods exist specifically for changes that would reduce player protections, such as increasing deposit limits or ending self-imposed breaks early.
The concept is based on behavioral research showing that decisions made during gambling sessions may be impulsive rather than considered. By requiring a waiting period, regulators ensure players have time to reflect on their decision when not actively gambling.
According to research published in the Journal of Gambling Studies, cooling-off periods are one of the most effective responsible gambling tools for preventing impulsive limit increases.
How Cooling-Off Periods Work
When you request to increase a limit or remove a restriction, the gambling operator cannot process this change immediately. Instead, the request enters a waiting period. During this time:
- Your current limits remain in place - You cannot exceed existing restrictions
- The request is logged - Operators must record the request and intended effective date
- You can cancel - Most jurisdictions allow you to withdraw the request during the cooling-off period
- No early processing - Operators cannot honor the request before the mandatory waiting period ends
Importantly, changes that increase protection take effect immediately. If you want to lower a deposit limit or start a timeout, there is no waiting period - the protection activates right away. This asymmetry is intentional: it should always be easy to add protections but harder to remove them.
EU Country Requirements for Cooling-Off Periods
While the European Union does not mandate specific cooling-off periods at the EU level, national gambling regulators have established their own requirements. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has published industry standards that many operators follow across multiple markets.
Germany (GGL)
Germany has some of the strictest cooling-off requirements in the EU. Under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021), players must wait:
- 7 days for deposit limit increases
- 7 days for removing loss limits
- 7 days for ending a timeout early
Germany also requires a national self-exclusion register (OASIS) with a minimum 3-month exclusion period that cannot be shortened. For more details, see our Germany gambling regulations guide.
Netherlands (KSA)
The Netherlands Gambling Authority requires:
- 48 hours for deposit limit increases
- Immediate for decreasing limits
- Minimum 6 months self-exclusion via CRUKS
The Dutch CRUKS system is a centralized exclusion register covering all licensed gambling operators. Learn more in our Netherlands gambling regulations guide.
Sweden (Spelinspektionen)
Sweden requires:
- 24 hours minimum for limit increases (operators often set 72 hours)
- Spelpaus national self-exclusion with options of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, or until further notice
Self-Exclusion Schemes in Europe
National self-exclusion registers are a key component of responsible gambling frameworks in the EU. These centralized systems allow players to exclude themselves from all licensed gambling operators in a country with a single registration.
The European Commission has encouraged member states to establish national self-exclusion schemes as part of consumer protection measures. Major schemes include:
- OASIS (Germany) - Covers all online and land-based gambling
- CRUKS (Netherlands) - All licensed online gambling operators
- Spelpaus (Sweden) - All Swedish-licensed gambling
- ROFUS (Denmark) - All Danish-licensed operators
- EPIS (Belgium) - Centralized exclusion information system
- GAMSTOP (UK) - All UKGC-licensed online operators
For a comprehensive comparison of self-exclusion systems, see our guide on Self-Exclusion Systems Across EU Countries.
Why Cooling-Off Periods Matter for Responsible Gambling
Research into gambling behavior consistently shows that impulsive decisions are a significant risk factor for problem gambling. According to studies referenced by BeGambleAware, players are most likely to want to remove protective measures immediately after gambling losses, precisely when such decisions are least likely to be in their best interest.
Cooling-off periods address this by:
- Breaking the heat-of-the-moment impulse - Forcing a pause between decision and action
- Allowing reflection time - Giving players hours or days to reconsider
- Reducing chase-losses behavior - Making it harder to immediately increase limits after a losing session
- Supporting voluntary protection tools - Making limits more effective by preventing easy circumvention
For players concerned about their gambling behavior, our Gambling Self-Assessment Tool provides an anonymous way to evaluate risk levels, and the Gambling Limits Calculator can help determine appropriate deposit and loss limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel a limit increase request during the cooling-off period?
Yes, in most jurisdictions you can cancel a pending request to increase limits during the cooling-off period. The request will be withdrawn and your current limits remain in place. Contact your gambling operator's customer support or use account settings to cancel.
Do deposit limit decreases also have a cooling-off period?
No. Changes that increase your protection (lowering limits, activating breaks) take effect immediately. Cooling-off periods only apply to changes that would reduce your protection level.
Can I end self-exclusion early?
In most EU jurisdictions, self-exclusion cannot be ended before the minimum period expires. This is by design - the point of self-exclusion is to be a firm commitment that cannot be easily reversed. Some operators may allow early termination after a formal review process, but this varies by jurisdiction.
What happens after my self-exclusion period ends?
When the minimum self-exclusion period ends, your account is not automatically reactivated. You must typically submit a formal request to end the exclusion. Many jurisdictions require a cooling-off period (often 24-72 hours) between requesting reactivation and being allowed to gamble again.
Related Tools and Resources
- Gambling Self-Assessment Tool - Evaluate your gambling behavior with PGSI-based screening
- Personal Gambling Limits Calculator - Calculate appropriate deposit and loss limits
- Gambling Session Tracker - Track time and money spent gambling
- Self-Exclusion Systems Across EU Countries - Comprehensive guide to national exclusion schemes
- Problem Gambling Statistics and Prevention - EU data on problem gambling and support resources
- Responsible Gambling Operator Requirements - What operators must provide
⚠ Important Notice
This calculator provides general information based on regulatory requirements. Actual cooling-off periods may vary by operator and can change. Always verify specific waiting periods with your gambling provider. If you are struggling with gambling, please contact a support service such as Gambling Therapy or GamCare.
Last Updated: December 2025