Knowing Where You Stand
The tricky thing about problematic gambling is that it rarely announces itself clearly. It tends to creep in through small changes in behaviour. Ask yourself honestly:
- Are you gambling with money set aside for rent, bills, or groceries?
- Do you find yourself chasing losses – betting more to recover what you've already spent?
- Have people close to you expressed concern about how much time or money you spend gambling?
- Do you feel irritable or restless when you're not playing?
- Have you lied about how much you've gambled or how much you've lost?
One or two of these questions giving you pause isn't necessarily cause for alarm – but if several of them resonate, it's worth paying attention. The earlier you catch a pattern, the easier it is to address it.
Practical Controls Available on Your Account
Boho Casino provides a set of account tools specifically designed to keep play within manageable boundaries. These aren't complicated to use – they're built into your account settings and can be activated at any time.
| Tool | What It Does | How to Set It |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit Limits | Caps the amount you can deposit over a daily, weekly, or monthly period | Account settings – takes effect immediately when lowering; increases require a cooling-off period |
| Session Time Limits | Ends or alerts you when you've been playing for a set amount of time | Account settings – configurable in increments |
| Loss Limits | Prevents further play once you've lost a specified amount within a timeframe | Account settings – same cool-off applies for increases |
| Reality Check | Displays a pop-up reminder showing how long you've been playing and your net session result | Account settings – set your preferred interval |
| Self-Exclusion | Temporarily or permanently closes your account | Contact support or account settings – see details below |
Taking a Break – From Short Pauses to Full Exclusion
Sometimes you just need distance from gambling, not because something has gone seriously wrong, but because you've noticed you're not enjoying it the way you used to, or you've been playing more than you planned. Boho Casino supports this with cooling-off periods ranging from a day to several weeks.
If you feel you need something more definitive, self-exclusion is the appropriate step. You can self-exclude from Boho Casino directly through your account or by contacting the support team. Once applied:
- Your account is closed for the chosen duration
- Promotional communications are stopped
- Re-opening is not possible until the exclusion period fully expires
- For permanent exclusion, reinstatement requires a deliberate process with a mandatory reflection period
Self-Exclusion Across Multiple Platforms – Gamstop
One important thing to understand: self-excluding from Boho Casino only restricts this one site. If you're concerned about your gambling across multiple platforms, the most effective step is to register with Gamstop.
Gamstop is a free, UK-regulated self-exclusion scheme that extends your exclusion across thousands of online gambling operators at once. Irish players can register at www.gamstop.co.uk. Once registered, you choose a period of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. You cannot reverse this decision before the period ends – which is exactly the point.
Support Organisations for Players in Ireland
Recognising you want help is genuinely the harder part. Once you're there, there are real people and services available in Ireland to support you – without judgment.
- Gamblers Anonymous Ireland – Peer support groups running across the country. Meetings are free and confidential. Visit www.gamblersanonymous.ie or call 01 872 1133.
- Problem Gambling Ireland – Provides information, a helpline, and referrals to counselling services. Helpline: 1800 753 753 (free, confidential).
- Extern Problem Gambling – Offers counselling specifically for gambling-related harm, operating in Northern Ireland and parts of the Republic. Free service. Visit www.problem-gambling.ie.
- HSE Mental Health Services – The Health Service Executive can connect you with counselling and psychological support where gambling harm has affected your mental health. Visit www.hse.ie.
- Samaritans Ireland – Available 24 hours a day for anyone in distress. Phone: 116 123 (free, any time).
For Parents and Family Members
Gambling harm doesn't only affect the person gambling. Family members and partners often carry a significant share of the stress, financial pressure, and emotional strain. Gamblers Anonymous Ireland runs a separate programme called Gam-Anon, specifically for families and friends of people with gambling problems. It operates through the same network and is worth looking into even if you're not sure the situation qualifies as a "real problem" yet.
How to Use Blocking Software
Beyond account-level tools, there are software options that block access to gambling sites entirely from your device. These can be useful if you've self-excluded but are worried about moments of impulse. A few options worth knowing about:
- Gamban – Blocks thousands of gambling sites and apps across all your devices. Subscription-based but affordable. Available at www.gamban.com.
- BetBlocker – Free tool that blocks gambling sites on up to five devices. Can be set for periods from 24 hours to lifetime. Visit www.betblocker.org.
- Net Nanny / parental controls – Useful for households where you want to prevent access for younger family members.
Protecting Younger People
Boho Casino operates strictly for adults aged 18 and over. Age verification is required before any real-money play is permitted. If you share a device with younger people in your household, we strongly recommend:
- Logging out of your account after every session
- Not storing your password in a shared browser
- Using parental control software to restrict access to gambling sites
If you suspect a minor has accessed your account, contact support immediately.
Getting in Touch
If you want to discuss any of the above tools, need help setting a limit, or want to initiate self-exclusion, the Boho Casino support team is available around the clock. Reach out via live chat or email through the main contact page. Requests related to responsible gaming are treated with full confidentiality and are handled promptly.
