Self-Exclusion UK 2026: How to Block Gambling Step by Step
Rachel Doughty
Updated
Self-exclusion is a formal agreement not to gamble, and every licensed gambling business in Britain has to honour it. One free registration covers every online casino licensed here. Here is how each scheme works, what the casino must then do, and what to do if it lets you down.
- 614,738people registered on Gamstop Online
- 178companies on Gamstop's participating list
- 24 hoursfor a registration to take effect
- 6 monthsthe shortest exclusion you can choose
Self-exclusion in the UK: which scheme covers what
You should use all schemes applicable to you.
| Scheme | Covers | How to join |
|---|---|---|
| Gamstop Online | Every online gambling business licensed in Great Britain | gamstop.co.uk or 0800 138 6518, 10am to 8pm daily |
| SENSE | Every licensed land-based casino in Great Britain | senseselfexclusion.com, or in person with a casino manager |
| Gamstop Betting Shops | Betting shops in the areas you choose (formerly MOSES) | self-exclusion.co.uk or 0800 294 2060 |
| A single casino | Just that business, online or in its venues | Through the casino's safer gambling page or support team |
There are exclusion schemes for bingo and other gaming which are available at SENSE and GamCare. The Gamstop scheme includes exclusion for the National Lottery’s Instant Win Games and therefore does not include National Lottery Draws.
How Gamstop self-exclusion works
For more information about these schemes visit the Gambling Commission.
- 1Register once
You have to provide personal information such as your name, date of birth and address. Registration for these schemes takes approximately 5 minutes.
- 2Choose a period
The length of a self-exclusion period can be from 6 months to 5 years. More than 50% of the people who use this scheme choose to self-exclude for a period of 5 years.
- 3Allow up to 24 hours
It is the legal duty of a gambling operation to exclude a self-excluded individual and not to communicate with them for marketing purposes.
- 4It holds until you act
Self-exclusion is meant to be a long-term commitment. It stays in place until the individual contacts Gamstop.
The Commission warns that minor changes to your personal details, such as a new email address, can enable someone to circumvent the self-exclusion process. You should ensure all your details including old email addresses and old addresses are provided to Gamstop.
What a casino must do once you self-exclude
These are legal limits placed on operators.
- Close the account and pay you back
Should you exclude yourself from a casino, then it is required to close your account and return any money in it.
- Stop all marketing
Operators are required to ensure that they do not send marketing materials to self-excluded customers and also remove self-excluded customers from their marketing lists.
- Stop you coming back
It is required to stop customers from doing what they have self-excluded themselves from doing.
- Gamstop alone does not refund
Self-exclusion from Gamstop will not automatically return balances from gaming accounts. If you wish to stop playing and get your money, contact the casinos or use the withdraw function.
As of 23 September 2026, we have confirmed that all the operators that own the casinos we review are part of Gamstop.
When self-exclusion fails: what the Commission has fined
For failures to self-exclude properly, casinos have been heavily fined.
- Sky Betting and Gaming, £1.17 million (2022)
Emailed a promotional offer to 41,395 self-excluded customers.
- Paddy Power and Betfair, £490,000 (2023)
Paddy Power and Betfair sent self-excluded customers offers through the betting app.
- 32Red and Platinum Gaming, £7.1 million (2023)
Customers that had self-excluded on the 32Red platform could register on Platinum Gaming.
- PlayerFT, licence suspended (2021)
Suspended for failing to connect to Gamstop at all.
Tell the gambling commission and the casino if you were able to gamble while excluded. The commission will investigate, and they will want to know when you were excluded, how you notified the casino, how the casino verified the exclusion, how long you were excluded, and the dates and times you were able to gamble. Once a decision is made regarding self-exclusion, the commission will not be able to refund money you spent while gambling. Dispute services such as IBAS do not take self-exclusion complaints. To see a list of commissions fines and for more information, see our gambling commission complaints page.
Extra layers that work alongside self-exclusion
Both the commission and support services advise using multiple means of self-exclusion.
- Blocking softwareGamban and BetBlocker block gambling sites and apps on your devices. Both are free for UK residents.
- A bank gambling blockMany UK banks let you block gambling payments from your card in the app. The Commission has a guide to blocking gambling transactions.
- Someone to talk toThe National Gambling Helpline is free, confidential and open 24 hours: 0808 8020 133.
Blocking software
A bank gambling block
Someone to talk toIf you are not ready to give up gambling entirely, you may set a limit on how much you deposit and take a break from gambling. Both of these changes will be immediately effective.
Self-exclusion: questions
How do I ban myself from online gambling in the UK?
For further self-exclusion, register with Gamstop at http://www.gamstop.co.uk/ or call 0800 138 6518. Self-exclusion will take effect within 24 hours of your request. For stronger self-exclusion, you may use blocking software and contact your bank to block gambling-related transactions.
How long does self-exclusion last?
At Gamstop Online, you can choose to self-exclude for periods of 6 months, 1 year, 5 years or 5 year renewable periods.
How do I remove my self-exclusion?
Once you self-exclude through Gamstop, you can’t remove yourself before the exclusion period ends. After the exclusion period ends, you must reach out to Gamstop to have the exclusion removed. Other exclusion schemes (land-based) like SENSE, have their own processes for removal.
Does self-exclusion get my money back from a casino?
Self-excluding at a casino, results in the closure of your account and the return of any funds. Self-excluding through Gamstop does not result in the return of funds, therefore, you must reach out to the casino to retrieve your funds. The Commission cannot refund your gambling losses.
What should I do if a casino let me gamble while self-excluded?
To report a casino, you must provide the dates of the exclusion period and the dates of unrestricted access to gamble.
Are all UK casinos on Gamstop?
All online gambling operators, licensed by the Gambling Commission, must abide by self-exclusion requests. The list of gambling operators, licensed by the Commission, is available to the public. Online gambling operators, not on the list, and accept customers from the UK are operating illegally.
Rachel Doughty
Editor, Casino Warnings · Bristol
Rachel reads the Gambling Commission's registers and enforcement notices, and the terms casinos publish for British players, then writes them up in plain English.
- Sources
- Gambling Commission self-exclusion guidance (updated 27 March 2026) and LCCP social responsibility code 3.5; Gamstop Online participating companies list (23 September 2026) and H1 2026 registration figures; SENSE and Gamstop Betting Shops websites; Commission enforcement notices for Bonne Terre (2022), PPB Counterparty Services (2023), 32Red and Platinum Gaming (2023) and PlayerFT (2021).
