Self Exclusion Tool
Once your Self-Exclusion period has ended and if you wish to reopen your account/ obtain access to the product/s from which you Self-Excluded, you must contact our customer services team. All real money gambling sites at Gamblermaster are regulated and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Yes—all UK-licensed arms of major operators (e.g. PokerStars UK, Betfair, Sky Vegas) are connected to GamStop.
By acknowledging this you can start to put the time in to new casinos not on gamstop repair relationships and strengthen them once again. Recognising you have a problem is an important step and whether you’re using the 12 Step Programme to recovery or not, recognising that you may have damaged relationships as a result of gambling is important. This can be finding new coping mechanisms, managing finances more effectively and rebuilding relationships, while groups such as Gamblers Anonymous provide peer-to-peer support from people going through exactly the same issues. There are dozens of incredible help organisations across the UK that can provide guidance and workshops to help you with the different aspects of gambling addiction.
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.
After you request removal, there is a mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period before your exclusion is actually lifted. To end your GamStop self-exclusion after the period has expired, you must contact GamStop directly. You will not be automatically re-enrolled on gambling sites.
Sources of help and advice
You can request self-exclusion from individual casinos or groups of casinos by speaking to the customer services team. By registering with MOSES, you can exclude yourself from all licensed betting shops within a chosen radius of your home, workplace, or regular route. Contact each operator’s customer support team if you encounter difficulties accessing your funds. However, other online lottery betting services that hold a UKGC gambling licence will be covered. Understanding the practical impact of GamStop on your existing betting accounts is important for anyone considering registration.
- It does not make gambling impossible for someone determined to continue.
- GamStop does not extend to physical gambling venues.
- When your chosen exclusion period ends, GamStop does not automatically lift the restriction.
- Once removed we will then apply a 24-hour cooling off period before your account is reopened/access to the product/s is allowed.
- Once your registration is confirmed, GamStop distributes your details securely to every licensed operator.
- Once you’ve self-excluded, we strongly recommend that you “unfriend” and / or “un-follow” yourself from any Facebook, Twitter or other social networking accounts that you may be linked to for Grosvenor, Mecca or all other gambling companies.
You cannot open the account again for any reason until the selected self-exclusion period has ended and when yourself exclusion period ends you need to contact our safer gambling team if you want to reopen the account again. If you prefer not to go into or visit a casino to self-exclude, this can also be done online by emailing the self-exclusion form to If you self-exclude you will be enrolled in the national scheme SENSE, unless you request otherwise, and will be excluded from all casinos in the UK.
Most major UK banks including Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, NatWest, Monzo, and Starling offer gambling transaction blocks. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is staffed by trained advisors who offer confidential support. Reductions take effect immediately, while increases require a 24-hour cooling-off period to prevent impulsive decisions. Speaking openly removes the stigma and isolation that often accompany gambling problems. If you are worried about your gambling, talk to someone you trust. A healthy relationship with gambling means it occupies a small, contained part of your life.
Most of these sectors, apart from the online sector, offer their own industry-wide exclusion schemes, which may be worth considering. If you decide to self-exclude from our businesses, we strongly advise that you also exclude yourself from all other forms of gambling that you may use such as bookmakers, arcades or betting shops. The minimum period of self-exclusion you can request is six months, and your exclusion will automatically remain in force for a further period of six months at which time it will then lapse.
You are responsible for any actions you take designed to get around any self-exclusion registered with GAMSTOP. Your self-exclusion using GAMSTOP will be most effective if you do not try to work around the exclusion measures GAMSTOP has put in place. It is your responsibility to ensure that the details gambling held about you are correct and up to date. We do want to hear from any customers who have evidence of gambling businesses not following our rules as we use this information to build cases against gambling companies and raise standards. We took action against a number of gambling businesses who had failed to use the system and will not hesitate to do so again. They must also update their lists of self-excluded consumers every 24 hours.
Gambling Therapy
In an anonymous gambling environment there will be times when customers who have self-excluded will be able to gamble without being identified. In addition you could consider blocking software which blocks access to gambling websites. You can find out more about self-exclusion and the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme on the GambleAware website. Once you have made a self-exclusion agreement, the gambling company must close your account and return any money in your account to you. It is up to you to stick to your self-exclusion agreement, but if you try to gamble during that time the gambling business should take reasonable steps to prevent you from doing so.
Self-exclusion removes access, but it doesn’t remove urges — at least not immediately. You must actively contact GamStop to reinstate access, and there is a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period between your request and re-gaining access. At the end of the period, your exclusion does not automatically lift.
Self-exclusion converts a moment of clarity into a barrier that lasts months, regardless of how you feel later. The Gambling Commission requires every operator to offer it. At the end of the day, gambling should never come at the cost of your well-being. Recognising the need for support is a strong and positive step. If you’ve found yourself needing to self-exclude, it’s a clear sign that taking a break was the right decision. Understanding your rights around self-exclusion and refunds is important, but it’s just one part of the bigger picture.
This will block your access to any online gambling sites and as such reduce the temptation of registering with another. For many operators there is an automatic minimum 6 months exclusion period, but you can request more. If you then attempt to access your account it will be blocked by the operator for that predetermined period of time, which is usually between six months and five years. The premise is pretty simple, in that you can choose to contact a gambling operator and block yourself from playing or betting on that site for a specific period of time. This is where the idea of being able to opt out of casino gaming comes into play, by blocking gambling sites; so let us tell you a little more about the self-exclusion process. GamStop covers every single online gambling operator licensed in Great Britain.
Each scheme caters to specific facets of the gambling industry, ensuring individuals can find the necessary support regardless of their preferred gambling venues. The scheme’s binding agreement underlines the seriousness of the commitment to self-exclusion, backed by evidence that self-exclusion acts as a crucial tool for those demonstrating harmful gambling behavior. On top of that, enrolling in SENSE connects individuals with resources and tools designed to aid in managing gambling behaviors, alongside information about other self-exclusion schemes for comprehensive control over gambling activities.
It’s used when you think that you have a problem with gambling and want help to stop. By law, this must be provided as an option by gambling businesses in the UK. You can change your choice at any time from the Cookie settings link in the footer.
You understand that Gambling Operators do not have to prevent you from accessing gambling platforms during this time, but they may choose to prevent you from accessing gambling platforms outside of GAMSTOP. You understand that if you have withdrawable funds remaining in your gambling accounts once your self-exclusion has been activated, it is the responsibility of the Gambling Operator and not GAMSTOP to return these funds to you. You understand and agree that our ability to assist in preventing you from accessing Gambling Operators’ services may be hampered if you do not provide us, at the point of registration and during your self-exclusion, accurate and up-to-date Registration Information.
It is remarkably easy to lose track of time when playing online. Meetings are held across the UK, both in person and online, and are run by people who have experienced gambling addiction themselves. Gambling Therapy is a global service offering free online counselling and support through live advisors and peer support groups.
There is no fee to register, no fee to remain enrolled, and no fee to reactivate when your period ends. If after going through the cooling-off process you find yourself uncertain, you can always re-register with GamStop. Self-exclusion is not designed to be easy to reverse — that’s part of why it works. Free and confidential support is available regardless of where you are in your journey.
The exclusion does not end automatically. There are three options, and choosing the right one is worth taking a moment over — there is no way to shorten the period once it starts. When you sign up to GamStop, you choose how long you want to be excluded. It’s important to understand the limits of the scheme. Behind the scenes, the matching is done against several pieces of personal information you supply during registration.
Visit gamstop.co.uk and register for free. Self-exclusion is a tool available to anyone who wants to restrict their own ability to gamble. SponsoredBuild your website with Vincony — fast, modern websites, built for you. Bet £10+ in a single real-money bet within 7 days of registration to receive £10 in Free Bets credited within 24 hours of qualifying bet settlement. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). 4 x £10 each with betting restrictions.
If a person is determined to gamble, they may find ways around the exclusion, such as entering a different casino, using a friend’s account online, or gambling on unregulated sites. However, online gaming operators have implemented self-exclusion mechanisms similar to those found in physical casinos. GAMSTOP only covers online gambling operators licensed by the UKGC. Self-exclusion is a process whereby you can ask a gambling operator to exclude you from gambling with them for a set length of time.
The exploration of SENSE’s operational framework, coupled with a comparative analysis of other self-exclusion schemes, has laid bare the collective effort required—from individuals and gambling operators alike—to foster a safer gambling environment. The process is designed to be straightforward yet thorough, ensuring that individuals have the support they need throughout their self-exclusion period. The scheme emphasizes the individual’s commitment to self-exclusion, with the understanding that while casinos will take reasonable steps to enforce the agreement, the primary responsibility lies with the individual to avoid gambling activities. It’s important to note that SENSE operates independently of casino operators, focusing solely on managing the self-exclusion process.
For online gaming, enforcement relies on technology, which can be circumvented by determined players using VPNs, new accounts, or altered personal information. These issues can impact the effectiveness of self-exclusion programs in both physical and online settings. Any attempts to log in or create a new account using the same personal details will be blocked, and players are removed from marketing lists to reduce gambling temptations. Once confirmed, the player’s account is locked, and they are prevented from accessing the site. Upon requesting self-exclusion, the platform verifies the player’s identity to ensure the exclusion is properly applied, often by confirming personal information such as date of birth, address, and account details. Players who wish to self-exclude from an online gaming platform can do so through the website or app.