LCCP Condition 3 5.2 Non-remote ordinary code
For anyone concerned about offshore gambling after registering with GamStop, GamBan is arguably the most important additional tool available. It operates at the network level, preventing your browser and apps from loading gambling content. The photograph is important — it is used by venue staff to identify and refuse entry to self-excluded individuals. You can choose to exclude from one type, several types, or all types of venue. You specify the type of venues you wish to be excluded from and the geographical area of coverage. MOSES (Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme) is the equivalent of GamStop for land-based gambling venues.

Step-by-Step Enrollment Process

GAMSTOP is a free self-exclusion service set up to help you avoid online gambling if you wish to do so. Land-based casinos, bookmaker shops, and arcades require separate self-exclusion through their own schemes. Most UKGC-licensed operators implement the block immediately upon receiving the updated exclusion list, which is distributed regularly throughout the day. Physical casinos operate their own self-exclusion schemes. Keep this as evidence of your registration date, as it establishes when your exclusion period began.
Breaks disrupt the “flow state” that can develop during extended gaming sessions and help you maintain perspective on how much time and money you have spent. Gambling should be something you do when you are in a clear, calm state of mind and actively choosing to spend time on it. This is perhaps the single most important rule of responsible gambling. When your time is up, log out — even if you are on a winning streak.
You can also email us at , or use the form above. First of all, if you aren’t sure whether your gambling is problematic or not, you could read our post on the signs that you may have a gambling problem. What are the signs that self-exclusion may be helpful for you? This can be a difficult decision when you’ve been grappling with how you feel about your gambling.
The obvious difficulties lie in the inherent nature of gambling addiction, because it is the player’s responsibility to inform the operator. Upon re-instating your account, you will enter into a mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period before being able to gamble. Our team will be able to assist you and re-instate your account after the Self-Exclusion period has ended. Your account will remain excluded until you choose to reach out to us. We will do all we reasonably can to prevent you from setting up new accounts and gambling and you’ll also be unable to undo your Self-Exclusion once it’s started.
Their online forum provides a peer-support community where people share experiences and encouragement. GamCare provides information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling. BeGambleAware operates the National Gambling Helpline and is one of the primary sources of support for gambling-related harm in the UK. The UK has a robust network of free, confidential support services for anyone affected by gambling. When activated, the block prevents your debit card from processing payments to gambling merchants.
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.

However, you may apply for reinstatement at any time during the six months following your stated exclusion period. To self–exclude is a very simple process, just visit your local Mecca club where a trained member of staff will be able explain the national scheme. The UK casino industry has combined to create a national scheme called SENSE (Self-Enrolment, National Self-Exclusion) to self-exclude a player from every UK casino with just one request. We do recommend that whilst self-excluded you also make sure you use software that prevents access to other online gaming sites. Self-exclusion will normally be implemented within twenty-four hours, but you should allow up to a week for a national self-exclusion to be applied to other operators.
The goal isn’t to make gambling hard. BetBlocker even lets you set a restriction period you can’t easily undo. The most effective exclusions I’ve seen stack several layers, so even a desperate 1am attempt runs into wall after wall.

Step 3: Provide identifying details
Even if your personal circumstances change dramatically, the exclusion will remain in place for the full period you selected. Five years provides substantial time for recovery and is often chosen by those who have sought professional help or who have experienced significant harm from their gambling activities. While six months may seem short, it provides enough time for most people to break the habit cycle and reassess their relationship with gambling. Once your GamStop exclusion is active, you cannot reverse it or shorten the period.
In these cases, you agree to provide official ID documents to the GAMSTOP Contact Centre before you can complete the registration process. Once you have verified your primary email address, you can continue the registration process. If you do turn off auto renewal and your Minimum Exclusion Period expires, you will still remain self-excluded until you follow the deactivation process set out below. This process will continue for four new five-year Minimal Exclusion Periods or until you turn off auto renewal from your GAMSTOP account. We may make reasonable changes to these Terms from time to time, where necessary for compliance with a legal obligation or the effective operation of GAMSTOP or your self-exclusion.

NHS Northern Gambling Service
The problem is offshore sites that accept UK players without a UKGC licence. With it, the gap closes the moment registration completes. At Spilleguiden, we treat GAMSTOP as the foundation of any serious self-exclusion plan—everything else builds on top of it. They’re then required to prevent you from logging in or opening new accounts.
- While self-exclusion is a valuable tool, it is not without challenges and limitations.
- If you are self-excluded from UK casinos and are looking for legal online gambling options, you might consider playing at online casinos not on GamStop.
- As a reminder, UK-licensed gambling sites are required to follow strict regulations set out by the UK Gambling Commission to protect players.
- If this is not possible to answer…please could you tell me how many people in the UK are self-excluded from M.O.S.E.S – The Multi-operator-self-exclusion-scheme.
- Not everyone is ready for full exclusion, and that’s fine—deposit limits are a sensible first line of defence.
- It is considered an important harm-reduction strategy and is often used in conjunction with other measures such as counseling, financial restrictions, and support groups.
It is mandated by the UK Gambling Commission and covers over 250 licensed operators. Gambling Therapy provides free online support for anyone affected by problem gambling, including live chat, email support, and a peer support forum. GamCare offers free counselling, support groups, and an online forum for people affected by gambling. Whether you use GamStop or choose to play at non GamStop casinos, responsible gambling should always be your priority. This means you can still visit land-based casinos, betting shops, bingo halls, and amusement arcades.
Of course there is always the flip side and an addiction to gambling can not only be devastating to the person involved, but it can affect their loved ones too. Online gambling has progressively grown over the last 10 years, to become a mainstream form of entertainment. Self-Exclusion and the ability to opt out of casino gaming is something that all gamblers should be aware of. At the end, you’ll be provided with a breakdown of how gambling is affecting your life, alongside personal recommendations for your next steps.Take a self assessment
The system isn’t voluntary for operators — participation is a licence condition, and failure to integrate with GamStop is a compliance breach that the UKGC can and does penalise. If your details match a GamStop registration, your account is suspended and you’re prevented from opening new ones. This can be done at any casino that participates in the SENSE scheme, not necessarily the one where you initially registered.
Self-exclusion serves as a protective barrier to help people pause their gambling activities and regain control over their habits. There’s quite a buzz online about a concept called “self-exclusion refund”. If you have gambled whilst self-excluded you should inform the gambling business as this may help them identify any areas where their procedures could be improved. Before this is available you can self-exclude with each of the online businesses that you gamble with. Independent team of iGaming experts providing honest reviews of non-GamStop casinos for UK players.
If you have listed yourself on GamStop and want to withdraw your remaining balance, you can contact the operator directly. While GamStop may have some slight drawbacks, it has proven to be an effective tool for players who encounter issues with gambling. However, if you do find that you are receiving promotions you can contact customer support of the site you are getting these from and they will ensure they are stopped. This means you will actively need to re-open your accounts.
The registration process takes approximately 5-10 minutes. You cannot cancel or reverse your GamStop self-exclusion before your chosen period expires. Once your chosen period expires, your exclusion does not automatically end.
Peer-to-peer betting exchanges that hold UKGC licences are covered, but informal gambling (private poker games, friendly bets) obviously falls outside any regulatory scheme. The block covers casino games, sports betting, poker, bingo, lottery products, and any other gambling service offered under a UKGC licence. If a player registered with a gambling site using different details (a former address, a nickname, or an alternate email), the match may fail, and access to that specific account might not be blocked. During that window, some operators may still allow access — GamStop explicitly warns that the block is not instantaneous. Services like GAMSTOP, MOSES, SENSE, and others provide effective means to self-exclude from both online and traditional gambling environments. Self-exclusion is when you ask a gambling business to stop you from gambling with them for a certain length of time.
You can extend at any time before or after your current period expires by contacting GamStop directly. Doing so undermines the purpose of your self-exclusion and may worsen gambling-related harm. Licensed operators are required to facilitate withdrawals of your remaining funds.
When you register with GamStop, your personal details (name, date of birth, email, address, and known usernames) are securely distributed to all UKGC-licensed online gambling operators. If you select 5 years, you will be excluded from all UKGC-licensed online gambling for the full five years with no option to reduce this timeframe. GamStop operates through a centralised database that shares your personal information with all UKGC-licensed online gambling operators. GamStop is the UK’s free national online self-exclusion scheme, designed to help individuals who wish to restrict their online gambling activity. If you have completed your GamStop self-exclusion period and want to return to betting on your own terms, these are our top-ranked non-GamStop operators for UK players.

Contact the responsible gambling team at any UK casino or bookmaker to initiate this. Gamban blocks gambling websites and apps at the device level – on your phone, tablet, and computer. This guide explains exactly how to register, what it does and does not block, how long the exclusion lasts, and what comprehensive support looks like beyond GAMSTOP alone. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.
Self-exclusion is when you ask gambling companies to prevent you from gambling with them. This tool is designed to enable UK punters to self-exclude themselves from all UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licensed platforms. GamStop is a multi-operator self-exclusion program that was created by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) and operated by a non-profit organization called the National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme Limited.
He previously worked as a compliance consultant for two MGA-licensed operators. GamStop does not cover physical betting shops, casinos, or amusement arcades. Many people find that the combination of GamStop (account-level exclusion), a device-level blocker, and a bank block creates robust enough friction to support recovery. You will be blocked from logging in or creating a new account at any UKGC-licensed site for the duration of your exclusion.
Their services include telephone counselling, online chat support, an active forum community, and referrals to free face-to-face treatment through local services across Britain. GamCare is the UK’s leading gambling support provider. Self-exclusion tools are most effective when combined with professional support. Complete elimination of all gambling access is practically impossible. No single self-exclusion tool provides complete protection against all forms of gambling. Among UK banks, Monzo offers the strongest gambling block because of its 48-hour cooling-off period for removal.
Within seven days of registration, all loyalty programs and memberships with casinos will be closed, and the sending of promotional materials will cease. This data is then transferred to the SENSE database, accessible to all participating casinos. gamstop If you are in the minimum self-exclusion period, you cannot reverse it early. You can choose a self-exclusion period of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. How to self-exclude from online and land-based gambling in England & Wales. We only feature operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.