Safer gambling · Independent guide
Self-exclusion from gambling in the UK
Self-exclusion is a formal agreement not to gamble with a business, or a whole class of businesses, for a set period — and a set of duties the business takes on in return. This guide covers the three levels (one operator, every UK online operator, land-based venues), what each obliges the operator to do, and the tools that plug the gaps. Sources are the Gambling Commission, GAMSTOP and GamCare, linked at the end. No casino is promoted here.
Need help now?
National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 — free, 24 hours a day, every day. To block every UK-licensed gambling site at once, register at gamstop.co.uk.
One operator: self-exclude from a single casino or app
Every licensed gambling business must offer its own self-exclusion. You ask, usually through the account or safer-gambling settings, or via support, and you enter a formal agreement not to gamble with that business for a set period — GamCare puts the usual range at between six months and five years.
Once the agreement is in place the business must close your account and return any money in it to you, and it must remove your name and details from any marketing databases it uses. The Commission’s code for online operators requires that removal within two days of the completed self-exclusion notification. If you try to gamble during the period, the business must take reasonable steps to stop you — but the Commission is explicit that it is your responsibility to stick to the agreement.
Every UK online operator at once: GAMSTOP
GAMSTOP lets you self-exclude from all gambling websites and apps licensed in Great Britain with one request. It is free, for people living in the UK, with minimum periods of six months, one year, five years, or five years with auto-renewal. The exclusion cannot be removed during the minimum period and stays in place afterwards until you contact GAMSTOP to lift it.
Participation has been a licence requirement for every online operator since 31 March 2020, which is why a site describing itself as “not on GamStop” is a site without a UK licence. Our separate guide covers the scheme in detail.
Land-based: betting shops, casinos, bingo and arcades
GAMSTOP does not cover premises. For land-based gambling there are multi-operator self-exclusion schemes that let you make a single request to self-exclude from the same type of venue within your area — for example all betting shops near you, or all UK casinos. The Gambling Commission’s self-exclusion page links to each scheme, and any venue can also self-exclude you from just that venue on request.
Tools that make it stick
The Gambling Commission’s own advice is that self-exclusion works best combined with other blocks. Three cover most of the ground.
A gambling block at your bank
Most major UK banks let you switch off gambling transactions on your cards and accounts from within their app, often with a cooling-off delay before it can be turned back on. It stops payments at the source — including to sites GAMSTOP does not cover — and both the Commission and GamCare recommend it alongside self-exclusion.
Blocking software on your devices
Software that stops your phone, tablet and computer reaching gambling sites and apps. GamCare lists gambling-specific options including Gamban, BetBlocker and Gamblock; some are free and some are paid. It fills the gap left by unlicensed sites that no exclusion scheme reaches.
Someone to talk to
The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free on 0808 8020 133 and open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, with live chat as an alternative. In England the NHS runs specialist gambling treatment clinics you can refer yourself to. If you need urgent help and cannot reach them, Samaritans are on 116 123, and in an emergency dial 999.
A note on this site
We review UK-licensed casinos and earn commission when readers sign up through our links. Every operator we list must participate in GAMSTOP and offer its own self-exclusion and limit tools; we do not list operators without a Gambling Commission licence, and we do not list sites marketed as “not on GamStop”. If you are self-excluded, the rankings on this site are not for you, and we would rather you used the helpline than our reviews.
Sources
- Gambling Commission — Self-exclusion
- LCCP social responsibility code 3.5.3 — Remote self-exclusion
- GamCare — Self-exclusion
- GamCare — Blocking software
- GAMSTOP — About
- NHS — Help for problems with gambling
Sources read on 27 September 2026.
Common questions
How long does self-exclusion last?
With an individual operator, usually between six months and five years, chosen when you set it up. GAMSTOP offers minimum periods of six months, one year, five years or five years with auto-renewal, and an exclusion there stays in place after the period until you ask for it to be removed.
What happens to the money in my account when I self-exclude?
The gambling business must close the account and return any money in it to you. That is a Gambling Commission requirement, not a favour.
Will I still get marketing emails and texts?
You should not. Operators must remove self-excluded customers from their marketing databases — for online operators, within two days of the completed self-exclusion. If marketing continues, keep the evidence and report it to the Commission.
Can I self-exclude for less than six months?
Not through GAMSTOP, whose shortest period is six months. For a shorter pause, use the time-out and deposit-limit tools every licensed operator must offer on your account.
Does self-exclusion stop me using unlicensed sites?
No. Exclusion schemes only bind licensed operators. Blocking software and a bank gambling block are the tools that reach unlicensed sites, which is why the Commission and GamCare recommend combining all three.
Can I get my losses refunded because I was self-excluded?
The Gambling Commission states it cannot provide refunds for money spent gambling. If you gambled with a business while self-excluded from it, raise it with the business first, then with the Commission, which may consider regulatory action.
18+. This page is information, not advice. National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 · Samaritans 116 123 · In an emergency dial 999.