Self-exclusion vs. cool-off vs. time-out

Recovery language

Definition

The practical difference is who can undo it and how wide it reaches. Cool-off / time-out: you set it, one operator, short, ends on its own. Self-exclusion: filed with a regulator or operator, longer (often one year, five years, or lifetime), covers every licensed operator in the program, and generally cannot be cancelled before it expires. If you only take one action, take the self-exclusion.

Preferred phrasing

always state duration, scope, and reversibility — those three facts are what people actually need.

Source

https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/help-by-state/

Cite this

Betttr. "Self-exclusion vs. cool-off vs. time-out." The Gambling Recovery Glossary. https://betttr.net/glossary/self-exclusion-vs-cool-off-vs-time-out/ (accessed 2026-09-20).

Last updated: 2026-09-20.

Corrections: support@betttr.net