What is a Time-Out?
A time-out temporarily suspends your access to a sportsbook account for a period you choose. During a time-out, you cannot log in, deposit, or place bets. The account is not closed — it simply becomes inaccessible until the time-out period expires.
Time-outs are designed for moments when you recognise that gambling has stopped feeling like entertainment, when you want a break after a difficult run, or when other parts of life need your attention and you want to remove the temptation entirely for a defined period.
A time-out is not self-exclusion. It is a shorter, reversible break. When the period ends, your account becomes accessible again and you decide whether to resume. If you feel you need a longer or permanent stop,
self-exclusion is the right tool.
How Long Can a Time-Out Last?
Ontario-licensed sportsbooks are required to offer time-out options across a range of durations. The typical options available at most operators are:
24 hours
A single-day pause. Useful when a session has gone badly and you want to prevent any further play before sleep.
3 days
A short break through a typical mid-week-to-weekend cycle. Covers a full sports betting weekend if you set it on a Thursday.
1 week
A full calendar week away. Enough time to notice whether betting was occupying more of your thoughts than it should have been.
1 month
A meaningful reset. Long enough to break habitual patterns and evaluate your relationship with betting from a distance.
6 weeks
The maximum standard time-out. At this length, a time-out begins to overlap with what self-exclusion provides. If you need longer, consider self-exclusion instead.
What Happens During a Time-Out?
What is blocked
- Logging into your account
- Making deposits
- Placing bets (pre-game and live)
- Receiving promotional communications from the operator
- Any form of play
What remains available
- Withdrawing any balance you already have (via customer support at most operators)
- Contacting customer service for account queries
- Accessing your account after the time-out period ends
Your balance is safe. A time-out does not affect the funds in your account. If you have a positive balance when you set a time-out, that money remains in your account and will be there when the period ends — or you can request a withdrawal through customer service during the time-out.
How to Set a Time-Out
1
Go to Responsible Gaming in your account settings
Most operators label this "Responsible Gaming", "Player Protection", or "Safer Gambling". It is typically under your profile or account menu.
2
Select "Time-Out" or "Take a Break"
Some operators use different terminology — "cooling-off period", "break from betting", or similar. If you cannot find it, contact customer support and ask directly.
3
Choose your duration and confirm
Select the period that feels right. Once confirmed, the time-out begins immediately. You will be logged out of your current session.
4
The time-out cannot be cancelled mid-period
This is intentional. Once set, you cannot end a time-out early. You must wait until the chosen duration expires. Plan accordingly.
Recognising When a Time-Out Might Help
There is no single trigger. These are some of the situations where a time-out is worth considering:
You have chased losses in the last 48 hours
Gambling has disrupted your sleep
You are thinking about betting during times you normally would not
You have spent more than you planned this week
Betting is affecting your relationships or responsibilities
You are not enjoying it the way you used to
A major life stressor is making impulse bets more likely
You have been less honest with yourself about how much you are betting
You do not need to be experiencing a crisis to use a time-out. It is a tool for everyday calibration as much as it is for intervention. Using it proactively — before things go wrong — is the most effective use.
Support Is Available
Taking a break is a smart and brave decision. If you are using a time-out because things have been difficult, talking to someone can help. Free, confidential support is available 24 hours a day.
Free, confidential. Available 24/7. Mental health and addiction services across Ontario.
