Game time limits

1) Why time limits are needed

• compliance with licensing and ethical requirements;
• reduced complaints and chargebacks;
• sustainable LTV metrics through healthy behaviors.

2) Types of restrictions (recommended taxonomy)

Note: time limits must be aligned with deposit/loss limits and Reality Checks.

3) Application policy and rules

The limit reduction takes effect immediately.
Increase - only after cooling (24-168 h; fix in policy).
Mandatory break when the session threshold is reached (e.g. 90 min) - the window is locked for 5-15 min with countdown.
Curfews: either voluntary (by consent) or "default" for high-risk profiles/regional norms.
Logs: immutable fixation of settings/changes/locks (WORM).

4) UX patterns without "dark" tricks

Principles: equal visibility "Break/Continue," clear numbers (minutes/hours), local TZ, no promo in the windows.

• Profile → "Self-control" → "Game time": session/day/week limits + curfew.
• Progress indicator in the game: "Today: 45 min out of 90 min."
• Reality Check with timer and net-result (no pressure to return).

• Onboarding: "Select time limits. The reduction works immediately, the increase after 48 hours (cooling)"
• Before the pause: "You play for 90 minutes. For your safety, a break of 10 minutes. During the pause, bets are not available."
• Day limit reached: "The daily time limit (120 min) has been reached. The game will be available tomorrow from 00:00"
• Request for increase: "The increase in the daily limit to 180 minutes will take effect in 48 hours. Submit"

5) Triggers and escalations (ladder of interventions)

1. Soft nujas (30-60 min): time/break reminder, 15 min break/Set limits buttons.
2. Enhanced prompts (80% limit): offer timeout/limit reduction.
3. Mandatory break (100% session threshold).
4. Lock time when day/week limit is reached.
5. Offering self-exclusion in case of stable excess and other RG signals (chasing, night sessions).
6. Support contact is person-in-circuit with reason-codes.

6) Complex cases and how to solve them

Multi-devices/tabs: count the active game window; deduplicate parallel sessions, use heartbeat events.
Tournament/live sessions: warn in advance, apply the "grace period" until the end of the draw, but fix the mandatory break immediately after.
AFC/inactivity: auto-pause and auto-logout after N minutes of inactivity (do not write off AFK during "game time").
Multi-verticals: individual vertical limits + total account cap.

Timezones/DST: store tags in UTC, display in player locales; Period Rule - Local TZ

Accessibility: contrast/fonts, support for on-screen readers, clear texts.

7) Communication with other RG tools

Reality Checks: Show time progress, offer break/timeout/self-exclusion.
Deposit/loss limits: if time runs out, block deposits/rates as well.
Self-exclusion: with an active status, do not show any game prompts - only informational.

8) Architecture (reference)

Time Limits Service: stores limits and balances, aggregates heartbeat events, counts active minutes.
Event Bus: `session. start`, `session. heartbeat`, `session. end`, `bet. placed`, `bet. settled`, `timeout. started/ended`.
Policy Engine: cooling rules, mandatory breaks, curfews, escalations.
Gateway Guards: pre-rate/deposit predicates (block at time zero).
UI/Notifications: self-monitoring center, pop-ups, locales.
Audit/WORM: unchanging change/lock/break logs.

Fail-safe: If Time Limits Service is not available, use "strict" behavior - barring bets/deposits or the last recorded balance (set up policy).

9) Privacy and data

Minimization: Store minutes/states, not detailed behavioral telemetry.
DPIA for time-based profiling.
Transparency: In RG policy, describe calculation, TZ, AFK rules, curfew.
Retention: time aggregates - 12-24 months, lock logs - according to license requirements.

10) Performance metrics and SLOs

Adoption Rate of time limits (target ≥30 -50%).
Break Take Rate (share of voluntary breaks after Reality Check).

Time-to-Enforce: <1-2 seconds

Overtime Prevention: Proportion of averted bets after running out of time (close to 100%).
Harm-Signal Reduction: Decrease in overnight long sessions/" chasing "of 30 days.
Complaint Rate by intrusiveness of notifications (keep low).
System Availability (Time Limits): ≥99. 9% with degradation alerts.

11) RACI (roles)

12) Checklists (operating)

Before launch

• Session/day/week thresholds and curfews are defined.
• Mandatory break and cooling on upgrade implemented.
• Heartbeat and session (multi-device) deduplication are configured.
• Locali, accessibility, texts without promo.
• WORM auditing and SLO/metrics dashboards enabled.
• DPIA conducted, updated RG policy.

In operation

• Weekly calibration of thresholds and notification rates.
• Monitoring false blocks/false allows and obsession complaints.
• Checking suppression campaigns for players with zero remaining time.

Incidents

• Degradation plan (read-only).
• Communication to players in case of failures, time adjustments by logs.

13) Example scenarios

A. Session limit 90 min, mandatory break 10 min

The player has reached 90 minutes → the window is blocked, the timer is 10 minutes, the buttons "Help/Withdraw funds." After the break - restart the session.

B. Daily limit 120 min

The player played 100 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening → the block until 00: 00 local TZ. UI shows "available tomorrow."

C. Curfew 02: 00-06: 00 (voluntary)

When trying to enter: "The game window is closed until 06:00. You can set up exceptions, but we recommend moving the game to the daytime"

14) Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Intrusive windows every 5-10 minutes → enter frequency cap and meaningful thresholds.
No cooling while increasing → regulatory risk and harm to players.
AFK account as "playing time" → use heartbeat and auto-pause.
Promo in break windows is → prohibited; RG options only.
Do not take into account TZ/DST → keep the calculation in UTC, UI - in locale.
The absence of journals → nothing to prove compliance.

15) Implementation Roadmap (6 steps)

1. Policy and DPIA: define types of limits, thresholds, curfews, cooling.
2. Architecture: Time Limits Service, heartbeat, guards, WORM audit.
3. Integrations: associate with Reality Checks, deposit/loss limits, self-exclusion, CRM-suppression.
4. UX/content: self-control center, texts, localization, accessibility.
5. Observability: performance and SLO metrics, alerts, RG reports.
6. Improvement: A/B timings/wording, threshold calibration, complaint analysis.

Result

Game time limits are not just a timer, but an end-to-end self-control loop: fair thresholds, mandatory breaks, correct time tracking technique, transparent UX without promo, communication with other RG tools and strict observability. This approach protects players, strengthens compliance and reputation and increases product sustainability.