Self Exclusion Schemes
Once registered, all online gambling operators licensed by the Gambling Commission must block your access. If you are an adult who is not GamStop self-excluded and is gambling responsibly, our independent reviews of non-GamStop sites are at non-gamstop-casinos and betting-sites-not-on-gamstop. While GamStop blocks you from UKGC-licensed operators, GamBan blocks your devices from accessing any gambling website, including non-GamStop betting sites. Once registered, GamStop shares the self-exclusion details with participating online gambling operators. In this article, we explore how GamStop works, its requirements, duration of self-exclusion, and how it integrates with online gambling operators.
No single self-exclusion tool covers every form of gambling. A comprehensive breakdown of every self-exclusion tool available to UK residents — from GamStop and MOSES to device-blocking software and bank gambling blocks. We strongly advise that you exclude yourself from all other forms of gambling that you may use, after enrolling onto SENSE. Information can also be found on this website about the wider help and support available for people with gambling issues and also for concerned family members or friends. You will then be excluded from every casino venue in the country. Otherwise you can enrol by visiting a casino venue in person to complete the process with a manager.
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It is considered an important harm-reduction strategy and is often used in conjunction with other measures such as counseling, financial restrictions, and support groups. It is particularly effective for those struggling with gambling addiction or those who want to take proactive steps to prevent potential gambling-related problems. Gambleaware are another charity that deals with gambling addiction and they have a lot of information and advice on their website. The company is a registered charity and the support team are all trained, experienced and professional. There are also support chat rooms, face to face counselling services, and they will have knowledge of where you can go for help in your specific area.
If you self-exclude with either Grosvenor Casinos, or Mecca Bingo, or any other of our online brands, we strongly advise to also exclude yourself from any other gambling venues or websites where you otherwise play or bet. Our Grosvenor Casinos, Mecca bingo clubs and our online sites all offer the option to self-exclude yourself, which is an enforced break from gambling. It blocks access to your account and prevents gambling activity for a set period. It allows you to restrict access to your account for a set period of time, preventing further deposits and gameplay during that period. When you register, you are excluded from all participating casinos for the length of time you choose. Regardless, you play at an online casino or from a land-based venue in the UK; you will be required to register with a self-exclusion scheme.
Recognising the signs early and taking action is the most effective way to prevent gambling-related harm. Problem gambling affects approximately 0.3% of the UK adult population, according to the Gambling Commission’s latest statistics. Whether you are a casual player looking to maintain healthy habits or someone who is concerned about their gambling, this page is for you. At Accord Global, we are committed to promoting safer gambling practices. The moment gambling shifts from something you enjoy into something you feel you need to do, or something you rely on as a source of income, it has crossed a line. This integration provides a comprehensive approach to tackling gambling addiction.
After you submit your request, the self-exclusion is activated and operators are required to apply restrictions. This information is used to match and block your access across participating operators. The longer the period, the more space you give yourself to reset habits and build supportive routines that do not rely on gambling. Once you register, the scheme is designed to restrict your access across participating online brands for the duration you select.
Once the period has elapsed, you will need to contact GamStop to have it lifted. You will not be asked for specifics regarding your gambling activities, as the point of this is to confirm you are who you say you are. This includes verifying your identity, ensuring the self-exclusion is secure and accurate. Founded in 2018, GamStop has quickly gained recognition as a valuable resource in the gambling industry. Independent UK casino reviews built on real-money testing, transparent methodology, and editorial integrity. They block debit card payments to gambling merchants and serve as a useful additional layer of protection alongside GamStop and software blockers.
We are unable to provide the number of distinct individuals who wanted to Self-Exclude from gambling organisations, due to the way in which operators submit this information to the Commission. If you’re concerned about accessing these sites, consider installing gambling-blocking software like Gamban or BetBlocker, which can block a wider range of gambling websites. You can register with participating operators in your area, though coverage isn’t as comprehensive as GamStop’s online coverage.
Sense Self-Enrolment
However, other forms of betting such as arcade slots, bookmakers, bingo parlors, or land-based casinos not requiring online authorisation will remain unaffected. If you wish to resume gambling after your self-exclusion period expires, you need to contact GamStop to unregister yourself from the program. It provides the option to voluntarily exclude yourself from participating in online gambling activities for a specific duration. A cooling-off period (sometimes called a “time-out”) temporarily blocks you from accessing your account. The effectiveness of self-exclusion depends not only on the commitment of individuals but also on the continued development of systems that are robust, accessible, and supported by a culture of care and responsibility within the gambling industry.
GamStop centralised this into a single registration that covers all UKGC-licensed online operators simultaneously. Before GamStop existed, players who wished to self-exclude had to contact each gambling operator individually — a time-consuming and often ineffective process. Everything you need to know about the UK’s national self-exclusion scheme — how it works, how to register, exclusion periods, cancellation, limitations, and what alternatives exist for players. Once self-exclusion is active, participating operators should stop you from accessing gambling features. That means it is not just a “promise to yourself”; it is a structured process that licensed operators must follow, with systems that actively restrict your access. It is designed to reduce temptation, remove easy access to online betting and casino products, and support healthier habits with clear, enforceable boundaries.
We cannot and do not guarantee that GAMSTOP will always result in you being denied access to a Gambling Operator or gambling activity. GAMSTOP is a tool to help you avoid online and other forms of remote gambling. You understand that whether and how quickly your self-exclusion takes effect on Gambling Operators’ websites and apps will depend on the effective operation of Gambling Operators’ systems. You understand and agree that although we take care to activate self-exclusions as soon as possible, and generally do so within 24 hours, we cannot guarantee that your self- exclusion will take effect within this timeframe. You understand and agree once you have online casinos completed your registration, we will activate your self-exclusion. When you have successfully registered for your self-exclusion or a further Minimum Exclusion Period, we will send an email confirming your registration.
Any site claiming to let you bypass GamStop is operating unlicenced, outside UKGC control—and using it means you’re gambling illegally and at your own risk. No—you cannot cancel, shorten, or reverse a GamStop registration once it’s in place. When you register at gamstop.co.uk, you provide your name, date of birth, email, and address—and choose a password. GamStop operates through a comprehensive verification and monitoring system that protects you across the entire UK gambling landscape. If your account has been blocked due to your participation in the GamStop program but you are not registered with GamStop, you should contact GamStop directly to resolve the matter. They will guide you through the process of withdrawing your funds.
- We have also created guidance to help you limit the amount of gambling related content you see on social media.
- When you register with GamStop, you choose a self-exclusion period of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.
- For online gaming, enforcement relies on technology, which can be circumvented by determined players using VPNs, new accounts, or altered personal information.
It is mandated by the UK Gambling Commission and covers over 250 licensed operators. Gambling Therapy provides free online support for anyone affected by problem gambling, including live chat, email support, and a peer support forum. GamCare offers free counselling, support groups, and an online forum for people affected by gambling. Whether you use GamStop or choose to play at non GamStop casinos, responsible gambling should always be your priority. This means you can still visit land-based casinos, betting shops, bingo halls, and amusement arcades.
This is a process where you can dispute a transaction, potentially recovering funds if they were used improperly. If you suspect your account has been used to gamble fraudulently—perhaps without your knowledge or consent—it opens up a different option. Even if you are self-excluded, losses from normal gameplay remain your responsibility. Always remember, the path to responsible gambling is through understanding and respecting the tools designed to protect you, rather than seeking refunds after the fact. Instead, it’s crucial to focus on the integrity of self-exclusion measures and ensuring they are robust enough to work effectively. Though it may sound promising, the reality is that such a refund policy specific to self-excluded players simply does not exist.
If a person who has been added to the self-exclusion list enters or attempts to enter a gambling premise that participates in the self-exclusion program, they can be arrested and charged with trespassing. If their application is accepted, the person in question becomes legally banned from all participating gambling premises within the self-exclusion coverage area. In areas that have enacted self-exclusion policies, an individual who is aware that they suffer from a gambling problem can voluntarily request that their name be added to the self-exclusion list. Utilising GAMSTOP or self-exclusion tools online does not prevent you from being able to gamble offline.
When your chosen exclusion period expires, your GamStop registration remains in effect indefinitely. Registering with GamStop triggers a series of consequences that affect your relationship with all UKGC-licensed gambling operators. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major driver, with lockdowns leading to increased online gambling and a corresponding rise in self-exclusion requests. GamStop launched on 19 April 2018 as a voluntary scheme, meaning UKGC-licensed operators could choose whether or not to participate. There was no central database, no standardised process, and no regulatory oversight of how operators handled self-exclusion requests. GamStop’s origins trace back to growing concerns about the effectiveness of self-exclusion in the UK online gambling market.
When you activate a gambling block, your bank refuses to authorise any transaction coded as a gambling payment. Banks identify gambling transactions using Merchant Category Codes (MCCs). This provides a financial layer of protection that works independently of operator-level or device-level tools. Most major UK banks now offer the option to block gambling transactions on your debit card.
If you would like further details about how to opt out of casino gaming or gambling addiction, then we would recommend both GamCare.org and Be Gamble Aware. You should be aware that many large operators may be connected and as such excluding yourself from one, may mean you do so for another. This is why many of the large companies have added specific sections to their websites, to ensure that all players know where to seek advice and that the option of self-exclusion is available. Once you make contact though, any operators are expected to act responsibly and comply with your wishes.
Learning how to block gambling sites on your phone closes the most dangerous channel. GAMSTOP blocks licensed sites, bank tools block the money, blocking software covers the offshore gaps, and a trusted person covers your judgement. Because it can’t touch unlicensed offshore sites, anyone who’s determined enough will eventually find a gap—unless you close it.
From June 2026, the UKGC has introduced mandatory deposit limits for all new accounts, requiring players to actively set a limit before they can begin playing. If you try to increase a limit, there is a mandatory cooling-off period (typically 24 hours) before the increase is applied. Knowing how to use them is one of the most practical steps you can take to maintain control over your gambling. Every support organisation listed in this guide offers free, confidential advice with no obligation.
All non-remote operators who are premises licence holders in the arcade, betting, bingo and casino sectors are required to participate in a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme. GamStop covers all operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which includes over 250 online gambling companies. GamStop is the UK’s free national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling.
These are built directly into your account settings and can be activated at any time. Ultimately, self-exclusion should be seen as one component of a comprehensive strategy to promote responsible gambling. However, the system is not without its limitations, and ongoing efforts are needed to improve enforcement, coordination across jurisdictions, and access to supportive resources. Self-exclusion is a valuable and necessary tool in the fight against problem gambling.
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This means every legitimate gambling operator in Great Britain must participate and check against the GamStop database. Stay ahead of the game with expert casino and sports betting site reviews, betting tips, where to find the best welcome offers and more on Gambling Zone. A notice is sent directly to all online sites so they will block you without you having to contact them directly.
If you’re wondering what actually happens when you self-exclude, this guide walks through the process from beginning to end, so you know exactly what to expect. Here’s exactly what happens when you self-exclude — during the process, immediately after, and over the weeks and months that follow. Self-exclusion is one of the most effective tools for addressing gambling harm.
A CBC journalist who tested the system found that he was able to enter Ontario casinos and gamble on four distinct occasions, in spite of having been registered and photographed for the self-exclusion program. “Gambling addicts … said that while on the … self-exclusion list, they entered OLG properties on a regular basis” in spite of the facial recognition technology in place at the casinos, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. However, you can self-exclude from physical casinos and bookmakers in line with the Gambling Commission’s rules and regulations. These effectively block you from accessing gambling sites, never mind logging in, and there are many on the market that are free and specifically designed to combat gambling addiction. Alternatively, you can call the gambling website which you wish to self-exclude from, with the customer support team guiding you through all the necessary steps.
If you are applying a product Self-Exclusion, unless all three exclusions of Sky Bet, Sky Gaming and Sky Poker have been applied, this exclusion will apply only to you Sky Betting and Gaming Account. Remember – Once you enter into a Self-Exclusion this cannot be removed from your account. A Self-Exclusion can be set between a period of 6 months and 5 years, or permanently (only available when selecting an ‘all product’ Self-Exclusion).
Each site runs its own list; you must repeat the process for every platform you frequent. Expect a cold shoulder from the casino’s UI. The system locks your account instantly after verification, and you’ll get an email receipt. That’s why self‑exclusion isn’t a nicety; it’s a lifeline. Every time you click “play now” the line between fun and trap blurs. If you are struggling to control your betting, we recommend that you seek help.