A session is a continuous period of play, measured from the moment a player sits down at a table, opens a game or logs in until they stop. Short breaks do not necessarily end it; players often count a whole casino visit or an evening at the poker table as one session. Thinking in sessions helps players set a budget and a time limit in advance and review their results afterwards.
Extreme sessions do happen: professional poker player Phil Laak set a world record by playing for 115 hours, with short breaks along the way. For operators, the session is a core unit of measurement. Online platforms track session length, stakes and outcomes for analytics, and many regulators require session tools such as reality checks, time reminders and session limits as part of responsible gambling controls.