What is self-exclusion and how can it help?

Bethany discusses what self-exclusion is and why it is an essential part of your gambling support toolkit.

Trying to change your relationship with gambling can be challenging. Often, people will have more than one online account or engage in different forms of gambling, which might make the process feel harder. In these situations, self-excluding can help you avoid accessing gambling websites whilst you’re seeking additional help.

Self-exclusion is the process of asking a gambling operator to not allow you to gamble with them for a set length of time, usually between six months and five years. By law, this must be provided as an option by gambling operators in the UK.

National Self Exclusion schemes enable you to avoid access to all companies offering your preferred type of gambling, rather than self-excluding with every company separately. For online gambling, GamStop is a tool which excludes you from all gambling websites and apps licenced to operate in Great Britain. Their new video is a great resource that explains how they work and how they can help you:

It is also possible to self-exclude form individual gambling websites if you would prefer that by following these instructions:

• Go to the website of the operator with whom you have an account and find the page called ‘Responsible Gambling’
• If you cannot find out how to self-exclude, or if this is not an option (i.e. how to close your account), then contact their customer services team over the phone, via email or live chat.

The process is similar for land-based operators, to self-exclude from these you need to:

•  Visit the venue you want to self-exclude from
•  Speak to the shop manager or a member of staff, let them know you want to self-exclude
•  You don’t need to take any money, bank or credit cards with you
•  Take a couple of passport size photos to go on the form; this can help the staff to identify you
•  You will be given a copy of the self-exclusion form for your records

Alternatively, you can self-exclude from more than one gambling operator by visiting: Opt-in to Self-Exclude.

You can also specifically exclude from UK Casino venues through the Sense scheme and Bingo operators through the Bingo Association Website.

Self-exclusion is an essential part of your support toolkit; however, it may not work on its own. Blocking software’s are another tool that you can use to support you when trying to change your relationship with gambling, find out more through our website: https://www.gamcare.org.uk/self-help/blocking-software/

If you are struggling with gambling, it is important to seek additional help when self-excluding. GamCare is here for you to talk to 24-hours a day through the National Gambling Helpline. Our advisers will listen to you and help you find the best support for you. Call the National Gambling Helpline on freephone 0808 8020 133 or visit www.gamcare.org.uk