Self-Exclusion from Online Casinos Basics
For the full legal landscape around gambling in the UK, including the position of non-GamStop sites, see our guide on whether non-GamStop casinos are legal. Contact the scheme administrator for the relevant venue type after your exclusion period has ended. You contact an individual gambling operator — whether online or land-based — and request self-exclusion specifically from their services. Self-exclusion is a formal process through which an individual voluntarily restricts their own access to gambling services. GAMSTOP allows you to self-exclude from online operators with one request. You can choose to self-exclude via a multi operator self-exclusion scheme.
You will need to provide necessary information and complete the registration process. By providing a centralised self-exclusion solution, GamStop offers a convenient and effective tool for individuals seeking to make positive changes in their gambling habits. We help British players find safe, fair, and enjoyable casino sites. When your chosen period ends, you must actively contact GamStop to have the exclusion lifted — it does not expire automatically. If you find that gambling is taking time away from hobbies, socialising, exercise, or time with family, that is a sign to reassess. Set a session timer on your phone or use the casino’s built-in reality check feature.
Free-to-play social casino apps and games that do not involve real-money wagering are not covered by GamStop. GamStop does not extend to physical gambling venues. While playing at these sites is not illegal for UK residents, they come with different levels of consumer protection. During these 24 hours, you can change your mind and keep your GamStop exclusion in place at no cost or consequence.
All Gambling Commission-licensed operators in Great Britain are required to participate in self-exclusion schemes. If your details match, the operator is required by law to refuse you access for the full duration of your self-exclusion period. MOSES, the multi operator self-exclusion scheme allows customers to exclude from as many betting shops as they need to.
Due to UK regulations, all legal UK betting sites must offer this option to their customers. Similarly, if you are betting more than you can afford, you should also think about applying self-exclusion. If you are struggling to control your betting, you should consider self-exclusion. Additionally, we will consider alternatives and how to remove the gambling self-exclusion. We will also explain how to complete a self-exclusion gambling form. We will address multi self-exclusion and explain how it helps customers control their betting.
Firstly, for context, self-exclusion is a tool used by those who have recognised that their gambling is harmful to them. I would like to know how many people in the UK are self-excluded from land-based gambling, in total, please. By identifying the betting shops someone uses or might realistically try to use we can tailor self-exclusions to specific needs. Our service allows people to self-exclude from multiple betting shops with just one phone call.
All casinos mentioned hold active UK Gambling Commission licences at the time of publication. For some players, the most significant benefit of GamStop isn’t the temporary break — it’s the discovery that life without online gambling is the outcome they actually wanted. If you do return, consider reinstating the responsible gambling tools that are available at every UKGC-licensed casino. The process includes a 24-hour cooling-off period between your request and the actual lifting of the restriction, giving you time to reconsider before the decision takes effect. When your chosen exclusion period ends, GamStop does not automatically lift the restriction. You’ll stop receiving marketing communications from registered operators, though it may take a short period for email suppression to take full effect.
What if I gamble online after registering for GAMSTOP?
This includes casino sites, sports betting platforms, bingo operators, online lottery providers, and any other remote gambling service licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. The scheme blocks access to all UKGC-licensed online gambling operators. During the exclusion period, operators must prevent marketing communications and stop access to gambling services linked to the registered account.
This is the length of time that you wish to be banned from gambling. If any of these signs apply to you, we highly recommend that you get in touch with us for free support and advice as well as trying self-exclusion. However, it is important to remember that self-exclusion can be a positive first step towards taking control of your gambling behaviour. The first step in the self-exclusion process is to make the decision to do so.
Self-exclusion is a facility for those that have decided that they wish to stop gambling for at least six months and wish to be supported in their decision to stop. If your initial 6-month or 1-year exclusion is nearing its end and you do not feel ready to return to gambling, you can contact GamStop to extend your exclusion for a longer period. However, we strongly advise against seeking out non-GamStop casinos to continue gambling if you have registered with GamStop due to a gambling problem. Technically, since non-GamStop casinos operate with licences from jurisdictions outside the UK, they are not bound by the GamStop scheme. For more comprehensive protection, consider combining GamStop with gambling-blocking software like Gamban, bank gambling blocks, and land-based self-exclusion schemes like MOSES. The system also checks new account registrations against the GamStop database to prevent excluded individuals from creating fresh accounts.
If you do not actively contact GamStop after your chosen period expires, the exclusion automatically extends for a further 7 years. Several operators have been fined millions of pounds for GamStop compliance failures. Understanding your rights and the obligations of operators helps set realistic expectations.
Individual site self-exclusion has a minimum 6-month period at UKGC sites. Once registered, you must wait for the full exclusion period to expire. The operator may require you to confirm your identity and will typically apply a cooling-off period before reactivating your account. The software is designed to be difficult to circumvent or uninstall during the exclusion period.
Focuses on player protection and self-exclusion awareness. Certified responsible gambling advisor and former GamCare counsellor. The important thing is to reach out for additional support immediately. GamStop registration is not reported to credit agencies.
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.
Examples include casinos licensed in Curaçao or other non-UK jurisdictions. Only offshore or unlicensed gambling sites fall outside GamStop’s remit. Registered sites then verify you against the GamStop database and refuse you access for the period you select. However, you cannot reduce your exclusion period or remove it early.
FAQs About GamStop for UK Players
It blocks access to over 50,000 gambling websites and apps across all your devices — Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Software blockers add an extra technical barrier by preventing your devices from accessing gambling websites and apps entirely. It is important to provide all email addresses and contact details you have used with gambling operators to ensure comprehensive coverage. During this time, the casino must close your account, return any balance, remove you from marketing lists, and refuse to re-open your account even if you ask.
From that point, if you attempt to log in or register at a participating operator, the system should prevent access. In the UK, self-exclusion is closely tied to regulation and safer gambling. Self-exclusion is one of the most practical, effective tools available in the UK for people who want to pause or stop gambling. If you’re reading this section and recognising yourself in it, the registration is at gamstop.co.uk.
This process was inconsistent, time-consuming, and riddled with loopholes. Remember, after the period expires, you do not have to return to gambling — you simply have the option to request removal if you wish. You cannot shorten your exclusion once it is set, but a longer break gives you more time to reflect. This option is frequently recommended by gambling support organisations such as GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline. The maximum period is recommended for individuals who recognise they have a serious gambling problem. It allows enough time for habits to change and for individuals to develop healthier relationships with gambling, or to find alternative forms of entertainment.
- If you cannot find the option, contact your bank and ask if they offer a gambling transaction block.
- In early 2026, Gamstop reported a 40% increase in self-exclusion requests from gamblers aged in the second half of 2025.
- By recognizing the warning signs and utilizing the various self-exclusion services available in the UK, players can protect their financial and emotional well-being.
- I would like to know how many people in the UK are self-excluded from land-based gambling, in total, please.
Betting
Yes, you are still the one in control here, but once set up a blocker is a pain to remove so it will at least give you time to think if the urge to gamble comes to you. Plus, once you’ve changed your limit there is generally a period of at least 24 hours before you can change it again, which could be long enough to cool off. Some offer the option immediately on sign up or when you log in, but if they don’t, head to your account section and follow the onscreen instructions. There is also nothing to stop you from then going and signing up somewhere else, so self-exclusion alone might not be enough, but it is certainly a start. Self-exclusion is a great attempt to help those that are struggling, but of course, you will need to do this at every site you are signed up to in order for it to be effective. This basically restricts your access new casinos not on gamstop to the company’s products so that you can’t use them; you are asking them to refuse you service.
This is by design — preventing impulsive reversal is a core feature of effective self-exclusion. You register through any participating venue, choosing to exclude from specific types of venue within a defined geographical area. You cannot cancel or shorten your exclusion once registered.
Grasping the complexities of self-exclusion and losses can be tricky, and it’s important to have the full picture. It is the role of gambling businesses to ensure these occasions are minimised by putting reasonable arrangements in place to prevent them. UK & International Solicitors Providing Commercial and Personal Legal Services Specialist UK and International Legal Services for Businesses & Individuals Your registration will not appear on any credit checks or background screenings. The scheme operates in compliance with UK data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
If you have applied a self-exclusion to your account (as opposed to a time-out or cooling-off period), you cannot remove or reduce it. This scheme covers all licensed land-based casinos in Great Britain. If you want to self-exclude from offline betting as well as online, there are a range of multi-operator tools. All UK-licensed betting websites are legally required to support GAMSTOP. Most betting sites will offer you the option to exclude yourself for a period of between six months and five years.