What is reality check?
Definition and example from our casino glossary.
Definition
A reality check is an on-screen reminder at set intervals that shows how long you have been playing and offers options to stop.
Reality checks interrupt play to show the time elapsed since the session began, often together with net wins or losses. You can usually choose the interval, such as every 15, 30 or 60 minutes. In Great Britain, technical standards require that the message stays on screen until it is acknowledged, offers options to exit the session or log out, and links to account history; no new game can begin until it is dismissed, and auto-play cannot start a new game. Other regulated markets use similar rules, and some require a visible session clock at all times. The purpose is to counter time distortion, which is common in absorbing games. A reality check only helps if it is taken seriously: when it appears, compare the elapsed time and net position with what you planned, and treat any mismatch as the signal to stop.