Self-exclusion: stopping your access to gambling
Self-exclusion is the strongest control tool: it blocks your access to games for a set period and cannot be undone with one click. There are usually two routes — inside your profile at a specific operator, and through a national scheme where your country has one.
Self-exclusion at the operator
Almost every operator has an option in the settings for a break or self-exclusion for a chosen period. It takes effect at once, but only for that operator. For a full pause, combine it with any national scheme and with gambling-payment blocks in your banking app if your bank offers them.
National schemes
Many countries run a register that licensed operators must check, so one request covers all of them. Operators that are not licensed in your country are not bound by it — another reason to know whether an operator appears in the register of licensed companies.
What happens to your balance
- Withdraw your real balance before requesting self-exclusion if you can.
- The operator usually pays out remaining real funds to a method in your name after checks.
- Bonus funds and active bonuses are lost.
- Open withdrawal requests continue as normal — see the withdrawal guide.
Do not open a new account
A new account during self-exclusion breaks the terms and usually ends in closure with funds withheld. More importantly, it undoes a decision you made in a calmer moment.
Steps to self-exclude
- Withdraw your real balance from every account where possible.
- Request self-exclusion in the profile at every operator where you have an account.
- Register with a national scheme if your country has one.
- Ask your bank whether it can block gambling payments on your card.
- Remove casino apps and saved passwords from your devices.
Together these steps make it harder to return on impulse — which is the whole point.
Support and conversation
Gambling Therapy — a free, international support service that answers in many languages. More tools are on the responsible gambling page.