Keep gambling within limits you choose before the session begins

Last Updated: August 13, 2026

We treat safer gambling as part of account operation. Our controls help you set financial and time boundaries, pause access, self-exclude and manage promotional contact. These tools cannot remove gambling risk, but using them before play is more effective than reacting after a loss.

Gambling is entertainment, not income

Every stake can be lost. Game outcomes do not create a dependable income, previous losses do not make a future win more likely and increasing a stake does not recover money safely. Set an entertainment budget from disposable funds only. Do not gamble with rent, food, bills, savings commitments, borrowed money or funds belonging to another person.

Stop when the planned budget or time ends. Do not chase losses, play while distressed or combine gambling with alcohol or substances that affect judgement.

Age and account eligibility

You must be at least 18 and meet the legal gambling age that applies to you. We may verify age and identity. Parents and guardians should protect devices, payment methods and passwords and can use device-level parental controls to reduce access by children.

Controls in your Tikal account

Deposit limits

Choose the maximum amount that can enter your account over a defined daily, weekly or monthly period. A lower limit can be applied promptly. An increase may be delayed so the decision is not made during an active session.

Loss limits

A loss limit controls the net amount you can lose over the selected period. Set it from your entertainment budget, not from a target you hope to win.

Wager limits

This control caps total stakes rather than net loss. It is useful when repeated bets make the session look smaller than the total amount cycled through games.

Session limits and reality checks

Session reminders show elapsed time and can prompt a break. Use a fixed end time and leave the account when the reminder appears. Do not dismiss repeated checks automatically.

Cooling-off

A cooling-off period temporarily prevents gambling access for the selected duration. Use it when spending, time or emotional reaction no longer follows your plan.

Self-exclusion

Self-exclusion blocks gambling access for the chosen or indefinite period. It should be used when a short break is not enough. Do not attempt to create another account or use someone else’s profile during exclusion.

Account closure and marketing preferences

You can request closure and adjust eligible email, SMS or promotional preferences. Blocking marketing reduces prompts but does not replace a gambling restriction when account access itself is the concern.

How limit changes work

Open the safer-gambling or account-control section, select the limit type, choose the amount and period, and confirm. Reductions protect you immediately or as soon as the system applies them. Increases can involve a cooling period. Support can explain the control, but should not remove a protective restriction simply to continue play.

Signs that gambling may be causing harm

Review your behaviour if you:

• spend more money or time than planned;
• chase losses or raise stakes after losing;
• hide gambling from family or friends;
• borrow, sell possessions or delay bills to gamble;
• feel anxious, angry or restless when not playing;
• neglect work, study, sleep or relationships;
• use several accounts to avoid limits;
• treat a win as proof that continued play will solve a financial problem.

A private self-assessment

Ask yourself:

1. Do I regularly continue after my planned stopping point?
2. Have deposits increased without a corresponding increase in disposable income?
3. Do I gamble to escape stress, debt or low mood?
4. Have I concealed payments or account activity?
5. Have I borrowed or used essential money?
6. Do I chase losses during the same or next session?
7. Have gambling thoughts interrupted work, sleep or relationships?
8. Have I tried and failed to reduce play?
9. Do account limits feel like obstacles to bypass?
10. Would a person I trust be concerned by my recent activity?

One concerning answer is enough to pause and review. Several answers indicate that stronger controls and external support should be considered now.

Common myths and the actual risk

Financial blocking tools

Ask your bank whether it offers a gambling-transaction block. Device tools such as Gamban or BetBlocker can add another barrier. Remove stored payment details, lower transfer limits and ask a trusted person to help manage essential finances where appropriate.

Support for players, friends and family

Independent organisations can provide confidential information and support:

Friends and family can also contact these organisations. Avoid lending money to fund gambling or taking control of an account without consent. Focus on safety, clear financial boundaries and professional support.

Our responsibilities

We verify age and identity where required, provide account-control tools, apply exclusions, manage eligible marketing preferences, train relevant teams and monitor account-risk indicators. We may contact you, request information or restrict account activity where safer-gambling or security concerns require review.

Requesting help from Tikal

Use the Help or Support area while signed in and state whether you need a limit, cooling-off period, self-exclusion, closure or marketing change. For immediate safety concerns, stop gambling, contact an independent support organisation and seek emergency assistance where there is a risk of harm.