Sense Self Exclusion Programme
You can find out more about gambling blockers by reading our full guide. You will then immediately be blocked from using the gambling site. As there are different ways to self-exclude, however, there are different steps you need to take. It’s made easy in order for people to get immediate help with their gambling problems. It’s one step of several that should be made in order to address the situation and it’s vital to acknowledge the signs of problem gambling before it has an even more detrimental impact on a person’s life. This can be done over a six to five year period, extended to a maximum of seven years if not removed.
A player who registered because of excessive slot play will also be excluded from regulated sports betting, poker, bingo, and every other online gambling product. Six months may feel manageable at the point of registration, but it’s worth noting that the exclusion covers all UKGC online gambling — not just the site or game type that prompted the decision. However, its success largely depends on the individual’s commitment to the process and the comprehensive implementation of the exclusion measures by gambling operators. Through self-exclusion, individuals can restrict their access to both online gambling platforms and traditional gambling establishments, offering a comprehensive approach to safeguarding their well-being. Self-exclusion at Online Casinos is a vital process for promoting responsible gambling, allowing individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from participating in gambling activities for a specified period. GAMSTOP is a free service that enables you to self-exclude from participating online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain.
Responsible Gambling: A Complete Guide for UK Players
If you wish to self-exclude from a specific gambling website, there are two ways in which you can do this, with the quickest and easiest being to do so online. By self-excluding from gambling sites, and we would recommend using GAMSTOP to blanket self-exclude, there are several benefits, all pointing to the fact that you can concentrate on addressing problems with gambling. It is possible to self-exclude across all UK gambling sites using the GAMSTOP service. Players at an online casino should be able to self-exclude online by checking a box, or over the telephone in line with the Gambling Commission’s regulations. While SENSE is an effective tool for controlling land-based casino gambling, some players may look for alternative ways to gamble online. If you decide to extend your self-exclusion period, this form will come in handy.
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.
If any of these are familiar, it is worth speaking to someone — not just to register for self-exclusion. People reach for self-exclusion at very different points. BetBlocker is free; Gamban is paid but often funded by gambling treatment services for those in need.
If this fails, the operator should contact you to arrange an alternative withdrawal method. By 2023, GamStop reported that over 350,000 individuals had registered with the scheme since its inception. GamStop registrations grew significantly in the years following the mandate. Any operator that failed to integrate with GamStop risked losing its UKGC licence. Before GamStop, the self-exclusion landscape was fragmented and largely ineffective. Many people register with misconceptions about what the scheme actually blocks.
Not all operators participate in these schemes, and players can still find ways to access non-participating platforms. Most platforms require players to gamstop contact customer support and undergo a review process before reopening their accounts, which might include proof of counseling or demonstrating improved gambling behavior. In these cases, players who self-exclude are added to a centralized list that applies to all participating operators, further reducing the risk of access. Some regions have developed multi-operator self-exclusion schemes that cover multiple online gaming providers. At the end of the exclusion period, the individual must request reinstatement if they wish to return to the casino.
What Is SENSE?
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.
You will be asked to confirm your identity and your intention to remove your self-exclusion. Your accounts will remain closed and your blocks will stay in place until you actively take steps to request removal. This is a common choice for individuals who feel they are not yet ready to return to gambling. You can extend to any of the available periods (6 months, 1 year, or 5 years) from the date of the extension.
Operators match your registration against the email addresses on your gambling accounts. One registration with GamStop covers all participating operators simultaneously. GamStop is the UK’s free national self-exclusion scheme. So what happens after the self-exclusion period ends? If you’re serious about stopping, GAMSTOP alone won’t block these unlicensed operators. So does GAMSTOP cover all UK online casinos?
People can also choose to self-exclude via a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme. 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. Multi-operator schemes allows an individual to make a single request to self-exclude from the same type of gambling within their area. It allows British residents to voluntarily block themselves from all UKGC-licensed gambling websites for a period of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. However, if you have self-excluded from online gambling due to a problem, visiting physical venues may not be advisable.
It will not stop someone else in your household from gambling. GamStop only blocks accounts in your own name. Using them puts your money at risk (no UK consumer protections apply), can entirely undermine your self-exclusion, and may have legal and tax consequences. We do not link to, recommend, or endorse any such sites under any circumstances. GamStop is a powerful tool, but it is not a complete fence around all gambling activity. When your chosen period expires, your details remain in the GamStop database.
Gamban, GamBlock, and BetFilter are all designed specifically with gambling in mind and will block any gambling websites or adverts from being accessed on your computer. With 24/7 access to various different gambling channels, be it online or late night physical locations, it’s very easy to feed the habit, and many people believe that global recession is also a contributing factor. Licensees should have, and put into effect, policies and procedures which recognise, seek to guard against and otherwise address, the fact that some individuals who have self-excluded might attempt to breach their exclusion without entering a gambling premises, for example, by getting another to gamble on their behalf. The requirement to take positive action in person or over the phone is purely to a) check that the customer has considered the decision to access gambling again and allow them to consider the implications; and b) implement the one day cooling-off period and explain why this has been put in place. Please note that the Commission does not require the licensee to carry out any particular assessment or make any judgement as to whether the previously self-excluded individual should again be permitted access to gambling.
Gambling blocking and self-exclusion
Navigating the world of online casino transactions can sometimes lead to unexpected surprises, especially if you come across suspicious activity on your account. While self-exclusion is indeed a genuine and vital tool for responsible gambling, no official refund process exists explicitly for those who have self-excluded. This allows you to make a single request to self-exclude from all premises offering the same type of gambling (for example, betting shops) in your area, rather than the customer needing to exclude from each operator individually. If you think you are spending too much time or money gambling – whether online or in gambling premises – you can ask to be ‘self-excluded’.
We only recommend casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Bet365 is one of the UK’s most trusted online casinos with thousands of games and a world-class live casino. It’s about giving yourself the time and space to change your relationship with gambling, with proper support alongside you. Self-exclusion is most effective when it gives you a genuine period of distance from gambling without ongoing temptation to undo it. Many operators apply longer minimum periods. Any money in your account at the time of self-exclusion should be returned to you.
These are built directly into your account settings and can be activated at any time. Ultimately, self-exclusion should be seen as one component of a comprehensive strategy to promote responsible gambling. However, the system is not without its limitations, and ongoing efforts are needed to improve enforcement, coordination across jurisdictions, and access to supportive resources. Self-exclusion is a valuable and necessary tool in the fight against problem gambling.
The essence of the SENSE program, what it entails, and how it caters to those looking for relief from gambling compulsions will be explored in this comprehensive guide. There were 651,563 instances of opting to return following self-exclusion in 2022. Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
Deciding to self-exclude from an online casino can feel like a significant step — and it is. Playing at offshore sites while self-excluded is legal in the UK but defeats the purpose of self-exclusion and means you lose UKGC consumer protections — slow payouts, withdrawal voids and unfair terms become real risks. Unlicensed offshore casinos are not bound by GAMSTOP. UKGC-licensed casinos must refund any deposits made by a GAMSTOP-registered player.
It does not extend to land-based casinos, betting shops, bingo halls, or amusement arcades. GamStop uses these details to match your identity across all UKGC-licensed operators. To register with GamStop, you need to provide your full name, date of birth, email address, home postcode, and choose your preferred exclusion period. There are no fees to register, no charges during your exclusion period, and no costs when you request removal after your exclusion expires. Even GamStop staff cannot override the minimum exclusion period.
If a match is found, your account is immediately restricted, preventing you from logging in, placing bets, or depositing funds. You will never be charged for registering, maintaining, or ending your self-exclusion. It is funded by the UK gambling industry as part of their social responsibility obligations. Nobody is forced to register, and the decision to self-exclude is a personal one.
The operator must take reasonable steps to stop this from happening, usually blacklisting players. It’s an essential tool to be aware of for anyone who feels their gambling is becoming uncontrollable, compulsive and irresponsible and should be considered alongside receiving further help to try and tackle the problem. This process may take a bit longer, but it ensures compliance with all data protection requirements. Alternatively, players can register remotely by sending the completed sense self exclusion form via email, along with the required documents. To join SENSE, a player can visit any participating casino, where a manager will assist in completing a digital application form.
Once registered, the exclusion is irrevocable for the chosen duration. The minimum is six months — there is no option for a shorter period. GamStop recommends providing all variations of your name and all email addresses you’ve used for gambling to maximise coverage.
- To block access to non-GamStop sites, you need device-level blocking software like GamBan or BetBlocker, which blocks gambling websites regardless of their licensing jurisdiction.
- They offer free support and counselling to people who have a gambling addiction or to friends and family of someone with a gambling addiction.
- While GamStop blocks you from UKGC-licensed operators, GamBan blocks your devices from accessing any gambling website, including non-GamStop betting sites.
- This includes pre-match betting, in-play betting, and any accumulator or futures bets.
- Self-exclusion means a complete block.
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.