What is the difference between taking a break and a cooling-off period?
Taking a break is the lightest option. You put your account on hold for a period you choose yourself, often a week or a month, and you can log in as normal once it has ended. In some circumstances, you can arrange to end a break early, although we will ask why you want to do so. A cooling-off period goes a step further and is deliberately irreversible for as long as it remains in place. You cannot log in, make deposits or play, and the restriction cannot be lifted early, even at your own request. That is precisely what makes this tool useful: it protects you against a sudden urge on a particular evening. If you notice that you return to the same pattern after every break, a cooling-off period or wider self-exclusion through GamStop-style tools may be a more appropriate choice. Check which services are available in Ireland and which operators they cover, rather than assuming that one request blocks every gambling website.