Complete Guide to Self Exclusion

According to Mayo Clinic, compulsive gambling is defined as the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling, despite the toll it takes on your life. 

Some of the most common symptoms of gambling addiction are feeling restless or irritable when you’re not gambling or lying to family or friends to hide the extent of your gambling. 

Gambling addiction is extremely risky. It can cause relationship and financial problems, legal issues, poor work performance, or poor general health. 

If you find yourself struggling with a gambling addiction, you have the option to self exclude as a precaution. 

That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in this article. So if you or someone you know is trying to self-exclude, keep reading to find out how.

Self-Exclusion Overview

Self-exclusion is defined as asking a gambling provider or casino to cut off your access to their services for a certain length of time. This period can range between 3 to 6 months and can go up to 5 years for online gambling. 

All licensed gambling providers must offer this option to any customer that might be asking for it. 

Self-exclusion can be an extremely beneficial tool for those gamblers who need it. The advantages include, but are not limited to:

• Spending less time and money on gambling;

• Reducing the frequency of your gambling sessions;

• Improving the financial aspect of your life;

• Reducing stress and anxiety related to gambling.

Easy Ways to Self-Exclude

The more self-exclusion tools you have, the more successful you’ll be in overcoming a gambling addiction. We will go through a series of such tools - both online and offline - that you can use to self-exclude from a series of different gambling activities.

• Gambling Blocking Software. These are usually apps or browser extensions that will block your access to any gambling-related content. One such app is Gamban, a software that can be downloaded on all devices. You can also use betblocker, a tool that will block you from accessing over 14,605 gambling websites worldwide.

• Self-Exclusion from Online Gambling. If you wish to self-exclude from one or more online casinos, you can use tools such as GAMSTOP, a free online self-exclusion tool that will prevent you from running or using gambling websites or apps from companies licensed in GB. 

• Self-Exclusion from Arcades, Bookmakers and Casinos. Unfortunately, there is no way to self-exclude from arcades online. You can check out the Bacta Self-Exclusion Scheme for more information. As for betting and casinos, you can visit the self-exclusion.co.uk Multi-Operator Self Exclusion Scheme or SENSE.

Brand Self-Exclusion

If you just want to exclude yourself from a particular online casino, you can follow our easy guide. The best thing about this is it doesn't only apply to one online casino - once you know how to self-exclude from one, you know how to self-exclude from all of them.

• GamStop. GamStop is a free service available for UK-based gamblers. Once you activate it, it will block your access to all licensed gambling providers. However, you should be aware that it only restricts your access to some operators who are part of the scheme.

• GamBan. While GamStop is free, GamBan requires a monthly or yearly subscription. This software is available for download on both desktop and mobile and even comes with a free 7-day trial.

• GamBlock. When you download GamBlock, you will be required to select the number of months you want to self-exclude, along with the number of devices you’ll be using. The price will be then calculated accordingly.

• GamCare. GamCare is a charity-based program, which means it’s free of any charge. It’s the most complex tool in this list offering both an extensive self-exclusion scheme, along forums that offer support to gambling addicts.

iOS and Android Gambling

If you gamble on mobile, don’t worry. There are some dedicated apps that can help you self-exclude. 

Let’s take a look at some of the most useful self-exclusion apps:

• Monitor Your Gambling & Urges. Or MYGU, is an app that helps people get more aware of their gambling behaviors. With this app, you can track things such as the dates and times you experienced an urge to gamble, your triggers, the activities you do instead of gambling, and many more.

• Cost2Play. The Cost2Play calculator can also be downloaded on your mobile device and will help you understand both the short-term and long-term costs of gambling. It works for slots, blackjack, and roulette.

• Stay on Track. Stay on Track is a useful app that will help you set a gambling budget and actually stick to it. You can download this app from the Gambling Help Official website. 

• Quit Pokies. Quit Pokies is specially designed to help you stop taking part in gambling activities. Once you have this installed, the app will send you a warning every time you walk into a casino, along with sending you time and spendings reminders and alerts.

• NetNanny. NetNanny is a general blocking software. You can select which types of websites you want to block and is compatible with both Windows or iOS or Android devices. 

Regulations in Online Gambling

Currently, the entire gambling industry is focused on responsible play. There are more institutions that regulate online gambling now more than ever, which means it’s easier for any gambler to self-exclude, should they choose to do so.

Let’s take a look at some of the most important regulations in online gambling:

Scope of mandatory self-exclusion schemes

When a gambling regulator is evaluated, one of the main criteria is whether or not they have their operator offer self-exclusion schemes for their players. This alone can reveal the level of care and concern they have when it comes to the wellbeing of their players.

It’s good to know that almost all of the world’s regulatory bodies have strict requirements for mandatory responsible gambling tools.

Post-exclusion player protection

It’s debatable whether the whole responsibility for self-exclusion falls on the player or on the gambling provider. Whatever the answer might be, most jurisdictions want to keep their players safe from problem gambling.

Marketing restrictions to self-excluded players

In recent years, any advertising that promotes gambling is has been either severely limited or outright banned. Some common restrictions when it comes to marketing include:

• Disinformation is forbidden;

• They cannot target vulnerable people (elderly, children, special needs people);

• Depictions of winning or immense wealth are forbidden;

• Safe gambling messages are mandatory.

Automatic referral to problem gambling tools and help centers. 

Many gambling providers will have a dedicated page that warns against problem gambling and the risks involved. However, Gibraltar is the only jurisdiction that actively requires operators to put their self-excluding players in contact with a reliable help service.

Here’s a more detailed table with the jurisdictions that offer post exclusion player protection:

Jurisdiction	Exclusion from marketing	Automatic referral to problem gambling tools
Italy	Yes	No
Malta	Yes	No
Curacao	Unknown	Unknown
Sweden	Yes	No
Kahnawake	Yes	No
Great Britain	Yes	No
Spain	Unclear	No
Gibraltar	Unspecified	No
Alderney	Yes	No
New Jersey	Yes	No

What Happens to My Funds After Self-Exclusion?

You don’t have to worry about losing access to your funds once you choose to self-exclude from an online casino. 

In case you have any pending bets, they will be automatically returned to your account balance. Once everything is returned to your account, the casino will then refund you using the same method you chose to deposit money in the first place.

Account Closure vs. Self-Exclusion

While self-exclusion might involve closing your account, they’re completely different things. Self-exclusion is the process that blocks players from using or accessing online casinos, on both desktop and mobile devices. 

This is one of the more efficient ways to deal with problem gambling, as it will serve as a total cut-off from playing, betting, and even being able to access such websites.

An account closure, on the other hand, is not always done in the context of self-exclusion. You can choose to close your casino account for various reasons (the casino is not satisfying your needs anymore, you got bored, you want to try something new). 

Your account can also be closed by the casino itself, in case you break any rules.

Gambling Alternatives

It’s harder to quit or even tone down your gambling activities if you have nothing else to do. And in this digital era, it’s easy to find a new casino with just a few clicks or taps. 

In this section, we’ll be offering some healthy alternatives to gambling that can help you deal with possible addiction. 

• Sports and hobbies. Sports are the perfect replacement for gambling in case you’re looking for an extra rush of adrenaline or a bit of thrill. 

• Yoga and deep breathing. If you want to unwind after a stressful day, nothing helps quite like a peaceful session of yoga.

• Art, music, or writing. You don’t have to be the next Picasso, Mozart or Dickens to get into these hobbies. Anyone can do it and any of them is perfect in case you’re bored or if you’re looking for a creative outlet.

• Volunteer or join a social movement. These are great ways to spend your energy on something positive. On top of that, they provide excellent opportunities to make new friends with similar values and interests.

• Talk to a counselor. If you’re experiencing serious mental distress caused by gambling, it will be useful to talk to a counselor. These trained specialists will help you understand and solve your problem.

• Traveling. You don’t have to see the entire Globe if you can’t afford it. Start by exploring your city’s surrounding areas or even new cities altogether. 

5 Ways to Postpone Gambling

When gambling becomes an addiction, it will also bring cravings. We know it’s a bit odd to describe a slots-spinning session or a poker match as cravings but that’s just what they are.

The good thing is - cravings usually go away on their own if you manage to ignore them. Here are five ways in which you can successfully overcome your cravings and postpone gambling:

1. Remind yourself that to gamble is to lose. And it will be a double loss - you will lose both money and the battle against addiction. You can even make this your mantra that you can repeat every time you feel like giving in to your gambling cravings.

2. Identify your self-sabotage triggers. When you’re aware of your triggers, it will be easier to keep track of them and avoid them in the future.

3. Do something completely different. The best way to forget about a craving is to replace it with something completely different. For example, whenever you feel the need to log in to your online casino account, go for a walk instead.

4. Pay attention to your cravings. This might sound counterproductive at first but you should pay close attention to your cravings. Identify what they feel like, how long they tend to last and what you think about during this craving. When you study a craving, you will take away the control it has over you. You can use a journal for this.

5. Find ways that help you better cope with stress. Gambling is often something people do to deal with stress in their daily lives. This means you’ll have to find better ways to deal with this stress - meditate, listen to music, watch a movie or play a video game.

The Bottom Line

All in all, we want to remind you that gambling shouldn’t become an addiction and can be quite fun when done right. At the end of the day, it should be a hobby that helps you unwind and relax, not something that takes over your life. 

Should you find yourself becoming a victim of addiction, you can refer to any of the resources we have linked in this article.

For more information on this topic, you can check out our safe gambling guide.