Understanding Your Risk Score Dashboard
Your Risk Score Dashboard is the command centre of Whistl's protection system. It displays your current impulse risk level, breaks down the 27 signals contributing to that score, and shows trends over time. Understanding your dashboard empowers you to recognise patterns, anticipate high-risk periods, and take proactive action before impulses escalate.
What Is the Risk Score?
Whistl's composite risk score is a single number from 0.00 to 1.00 that represents your current likelihood of acting on a gambling impulse:
- 0.00-0.40 (Low): Normal state, passive monitoring
- 0.40-0.60 (Elevated): Increased vigilance, proactive check-ins
- 0.60-0.80 (High): Active intervention, blocking engaged
- 0.80-1.00 (Critical): Maximum protection, partner alerts
The score updates in real-time as new data arrives from your connected accounts, biometric sensors, and location services.
Accessing Your Dashboard
- Open the Whistl app
- Tap Dashboard in the bottom navigation
- Your current risk score displays prominently at the top
- Scroll down for detailed breakdowns and trends
Dashboard Components
1. Current Risk Score (Top Card)
The large circular gauge shows your real-time risk level:
- Colour coding: Green (low), Yellow (elevated), Orange (high), Red (critical)
- Numeric display: Exact score to two decimal places
- Trend arrow: Shows if risk is rising (↑), falling (↓), or stable (→)
- Last updated: Timestamp of most recent calculation
2. Top Contributing Signals
Beneath your score, see the 3-5 signals currently driving your risk:
- Each signal shows its individual contribution (0.00-0.20)
- Colour indicates severity (green to red gradient)
- Tap any signal for detailed explanation
- Signals are ranked by current impact
3. 24-Hour Risk Trend
Line graph showing how your risk has fluctuated:
- X-axis: Time (hourly intervals)
- Y-axis: Risk score (0.00-1.00)
- Shaded regions indicate risk zones
- Tap any point to see what signals were active
4. 7-Day Comparison
Weekly view comparing today to your typical patterns:
- Shows average risk by day of week
- Highlights your highest-risk days
- Identifies patterns (e.g., "Saturdays average 0.52")
5. Signal Breakdown by Category
Groups the 27 signals into five categories:
- Temporal (time-based)
- Location (where you are)
- Biometric (physiological state)
- Financial (spending patterns)
- Behavioural (actions and context)
The 27 Risk Signals Explained
Whistl monitors 27 distinct signals across five categories. Here's what each measures:
Temporal Signals (5 signals)
| Signal | What It Measures | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Time of Day | Current hour | Late night (10pm-2am) is high-risk for 68% of users |
| Day of Week | Current day | Weekends show 43% higher gambling activity |
| Days Since Payday | Time from last pay | First 72 hours after payday are highest risk |
| Days Until Payday | Time to next pay | Financial stress peaks 3-5 days before payday |
| Time Since Last Impulse | Hours since last urge | Urges often cluster within 48-hour windows |
Location Signals (5 signals)
| Signal | What It Measures | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Venue Proximity | Distance to gambling venues | Being within 500m increases impulse likelihood 3.2x |
| Venue Density | Number of venues nearby | Multiple venues create compounded temptation |
| Home/Away Status | Whether you're at home | Home is generally lower-risk environment |
| Location History | Pattern matching | Locations associated with past gambling trigger risk |
| GPS Coordinates | Precise location | Enables all location-based risk calculations |
Biometric Signals (6 signals)
| Signal | What It Measures | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate Variability | HRV from Apple Watch/Oura | Low HRV indicates stress, correlates with impulses |
| Resting Heart Rate | Baseline heart rate | Elevated RHR suggests physiological arousal |
| Sleep Duration | Hours slept last night | <6 hours sleep increases impulsivity 47% |
| Sleep Quality | Sleep efficiency score | Poor sleep reduces decision-making capacity |
| Stress Level | Derived from biometrics | Stress is top trigger for 72% of users |
| Recovery Status | Oura/Apple readiness | Low recovery = reduced impulse control |
Financial Signals (6 signals)
| Signal | What It Measures | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Spending Velocity | Rate of recent spending | Rapid spending often precedes gambling |
| Balance Trend | Account balance changes | Declining balance may indicate chasing losses |
| Protected Floor Distance | Buffer above essentials | Small buffer = higher financial stress |
| Recent Gambling Transactions | Detected gambling spend | Recent gambling increases relapse risk |
| Large Transaction Alerts | Unusual spending amounts | May indicate gambling or emotional spending |
| ATM Withdrawal Pattern | Cash withdrawal frequency | Cash is preferred for gambling by 64% |
Behavioural Signals (5 signals)
| Signal | What It Measures | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| DNS Gambling Queries | Attempts to access gambling sites | Direct indicator of gambling intent |
| App Session Duration | Time spent in Whistl | Extended sessions may indicate struggle |
| Bypass Attempts | Requests to override blocks | Active attempts to circumvent protection |
| Calendar Stress Events | Scheduled stressful events | Stress events correlate with impulses |
| Mood Check-In Score | Self-reported mood | Low mood increases vulnerability |
How the Composite Score Is Calculated
Whistl uses a weighted algorithm to combine signals:
Signal Weighting
- Each signal has a base weight (0.02-0.15)
- Weights are personalised based on your history
- Signals that predicted your past impulses get higher weights
- Signals that were false alarms get lower weights
Calculation Process
- Each signal is normalised to 0.00-1.00 scale
- Normalised value is multiplied by signal weight
- All weighted values are summed
- Result is capped at 1.00 maximum
- Score updates every 5 minutes or on significant events
Example Calculation
| Signal | Value | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue Proximity | 0.85 | 0.12 | 0.102 |
| Time of Day (11pm) | 0.70 | 0.08 | 0.056 |
| Low HRV | 0.65 | 0.10 | 0.065 |
| Spending Velocity | 0.40 | 0.07 | 0.028 |
| Days Since Payday (1) | 0.75 | 0.09 | 0.068 |
| Total Composite Score | 0.319 | ||
Additional signals would continue adding to reach final score.
Personalisation Over Time
Your risk score becomes more accurate as Whistl learns:
Learning Timeline
| Period | Personalisation Level |
|---|---|
| Days 1-7 | Baseline: Uses population averages |
| Weeks 2-4 | Emerging: Identifies your top triggers |
| Months 2-3 | Personalised: Weights optimised for you |
| Months 4+ | Predictive: 84%+ accuracy on average |
Using Your Dashboard Proactively
Don't just watch your score—use it to prevent impulses:
Daily Check-In Routine
- Open dashboard each morning
- Note your baseline risk level
- Review top contributing signals
- Plan strategies for any elevated signals
- Example: "Risk is 0.35. Payday tomorrow will spike it. I'll avoid the CBD."
Pattern Recognition
Use the 7-day view to identify patterns:
- "My risk is always highest on Saturday afternoons"
- "I'm vulnerable 2-3 days after payday"
- "Poor sleep nights lead to high-risk next days"
- "Being near the casino district spikes my score"
Preventive Actions
When you see risk rising, take action:
- Location risk: Leave the area, change your route
- Time risk: Plan activities during high-risk hours
- Biometric risk: Prioritise sleep, stress management
- Financial risk: Transfer funds to protected accounts
- Behavioural risk: Reach out to your accountability partner
Dashboard Notifications
Configure alerts for risk score changes:
Notification Thresholds
- Crossing into Elevated (0.40): Optional alert
- Crossing into High (0.60): Default alert
- Crossing into Critical (0.80): Always alerts
- Rapid increase: Alert if score rises 0.20+ in 1 hour
Sharing Your Dashboard
You can share risk insights with your accountability partner:
Sharing Options
- Full access: Partner sees complete dashboard
- Score only: Partner sees only current risk level
- Alerts only: Partner notified when you cross thresholds
- Private: Dashboard visible only to you
Troubleshooting Dashboard Issues
Problem: Score Seems Inaccurate
Solutions:
- Ensure all data sources are connected (bank, Health, location)
- Check that permissions are enabled for all services
- Force refresh by pulling down on dashboard
- Remember: accuracy improves over first 30 days
Problem: Score Not Updating
Solutions:
- Check internet connection
- Ensure location services are enabled for Whistl
- Verify bank sync is working (Settings → Bank Accounts)
- Restart the app
Problem: Missing Signals
Solutions:
- Some signals require specific integrations (e.g., Oura for recovery)
- Check Settings → Risk Signals to see which are enabled
- Enable missing data sources in phone settings
Privacy and Data Security
Your risk data is highly sensitive. Whistl protects it:
- On-device calculation: Score computed on your phone, not servers
- Encrypted storage: Historical data encrypted at rest
- Minimal transmission: Only encrypted backups sent to cloud
- Partner sharing: Only with your explicit consent
Conclusion
Your Risk Score Dashboard transforms invisible impulses into visible, manageable data. By understanding what drives your score and how to interpret trends, you gain power over your behaviour. Check your dashboard daily, learn your patterns, and use insights to stay ahead of urges. Knowledge is protection.
Know Your Risk
Real-time impulse prediction helps you stay ahead of urges. Download Whistl and see your risk dashboard.
Download Whistl FreeRelated: 27 Risk Signals Explained | AI Financial Coach | Spending Analytics