UK self-exclusion rules
UK self-exclusion rules let you shut yourself out of gambling for a set period, and they oblige every online operator licensed in Great Britain to honour that choice. Through GAMSTOP, one request covers all licensed gambling websites and apps for 6 months to 5 years, and it can’t be cancelled early. This page sets out what the rules require and where their reach ends.
By the Top Casino Bonus team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Every online operator licensed for Great Britain has had to take part in GAMSTOP since 31 March 2020.
- A GAMSTOP exclusion runs for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, can’t be ended early, and stays in place after expiry until you ask for it to be removed.
- Operators must refuse service, close accounts, return funds and stop marketing to you.
- GAMSTOP covers online gambling only; land-based venues and draw lotteries need separate steps.
- Free, confidential help is available 24/7 on the National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133.
- National scheme
- GAMSTOP (online only)
- Length
- 6 months to 5 years
- Early cancellation
- Not possible
- Mandatory for operators
- Since 31 March 2020
- Code provisions
- LCCP 3.5.3 and 3.5.5
- Helpline
- 0808 8020 133, free, 24/7
What self-exclusion means under UK rules
Self-exclusion is a request you make for gambling businesses to refuse you service for a fixed period. It’s meant for people who want a firm break, not a short pause, and once it’s in place the business carries the duty to keep you out. The Gambling Commission’s self-exclusion guide (opens in a new tab) describes how it works for online and high-street gambling.
UK self-exclusion rules work at two levels. You can exclude from a single operator through its account settings, or you can use the national multi-operator scheme, GAMSTOP, to cover every licensed online business at once. These rules form part of the wider UK casino bonus rules, and they override any marketing or promotion an operator might otherwise send you.
If you are thinking about self-exclusion right now, you don’t need to read the rest of this page first. You can register with GAMSTOP online in a few minutes, or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 for free, confidential support at any hour.
The licence codes behind UK self-exclusion rules
Two social responsibility code provisions do the work. Under LCCP 3.5.5 (opens in a new tab), licensees ‘must participate in the national multi-operator self-exclusion scheme’, which for online gambling is GAMSTOP. Under LCCP 3.5.3 (opens in a new tab), remote operators must have their own self-exclusion procedures and must act on them.
| Duty | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Refuse service | You can’t open a new account or gamble on an existing one |
| Close accounts | Existing accounts are closed rather than left dormant |
| Return funds | Any balance is returned to you |
| Stop marketing | You are removed from marketing lists within two days |
| Signpost support | You are pointed towards help such as counselling services |
| Join GAMSTOP | Every online licensee must take part, so one request covers them all |
These duties sit beside the customer interaction rules, which require operators to spot and act on signs of harm whether or not you have excluded.
How GAMSTOP works
GAMSTOP is run by The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited and is free to use. According to GAMSTOP’s own description (opens in a new tab), you choose a period of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. During that period the exclusion can’t be cancelled. When it ends, the exclusion stays in force until you actively ask GAMSTOP to remove it, so nothing reopens automatically.
- Go to the GAMSTOP website and register with the personal details it asks for.
- Give those details accurately and completely, including older addresses or email addresses if asked, so accounts you opened in the past can be matched.
- Choose 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
- Confirm. Licensed operators check new and existing customers against the register.
- Add other blocks, such as a bank gambling block, for extra protection while the exclusion runs.
Our GAMSTOP rules page covers the scheme’s history and enforcement, and the guide on how to self-exclude includes help with matching older accounts.
Self-exclusion, bonuses and marketing
An excluded customer can’t claim any offer, and operators must stop sending promotions. That follows directly from the duty to refuse service and remove you from marketing within two days. Since 12 February 2023, operators have also had to stop marketing and new bonus take-up for customers showing strong signs of harm, even without a self-exclusion; see bonuses and harm indicators.
If gambling emails or texts still arrive, it may come from a business you never opened an account with or from an unlicensed site. The guide on how to stop bonus emails and the direct marketing rules explain your options. Our answer on whether GAMSTOP blocks bonuses goes through the detail.
Self-exclusion compared with other UK blocking tools
Self-exclusion is the strongest step, but not the only one. Many people combine it with tools that act on payments or devices.
| Tool | What it does | Can you reverse it quickly? |
|---|---|---|
| GAMSTOP self-exclusion | Blocks all licensed online gambling in Great Britain | No: fixed 6 months to 5 years |
| Single-operator self-exclusion | Blocks one business and its accounts | No, during the chosen period |
| Time-out | Short break of a day to a few weeks at one operator | No, during the break |
| Deposit limit | Caps how much you can put in over a period | Increases are delayed; decreases are immediate |
| Bank gambling block | Stops card payments to gambling merchants | Depends on the bank; some add a cooling-off delay |
| Blocking software such as Gamban | Stops gambling sites loading on your devices | Depends on the product |
The Commission keeps a page on how to block gambling transactions (opens in a new tab), naming banks with blocks including Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds, Monzo, NatWest, Santander and Starling. Halifax and Lloyds also offer Gamban. Our deposit limit rules page explains the financial limit prompt that has applied before a first deposit since 31 October 2025.
Where UK self-exclusion rules stop
- Land-based gambling. GAMSTOP is online only. Betting shops, bingo halls, arcades and casinos run their own schemes, and you register with those separately.
- Draw-based lotteries. GAMSTOP blocks lottery instant-win games, but draw games such as Lotto aren’t covered.
- Unlicensed sites. Offshore operators aren’t bound by Commission rules. Sites promoted as working around GAMSTOP offer none of the protections described here; our page on offshore casino risks explains why.
- Northern Ireland. The Commission’s rules cover Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate, older law, so check how an operator applies GAMSTOP to you; see Northern Ireland gambling law.
- Ending early. No rule lets you or an operator cut a GAMSTOP period short.
How the rules are enforced
The Commission treats failure to join GAMSTOP as serious. In November 2022 it suspended LEBOM Limited’s licence for failing to participate. Many larger penalties since 2024 have cited wider customer interaction failures, such as the £2m settlement by Paddy Power Betfair in December 2025.
If an operator lets you gamble while you are excluded, complain to it first. Complaints about self-exclusion are often treated as regulatory matters: in 2019–20, regulatory issues, including self-exclusion, were the largest single reason the IBAS dispute service refused cases. You can also report the business to the Gambling Commission. The complaints and ADR rules page explains the routes.
Timeline of UK self-exclusion rules
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 14 January 2020 | Commission announces mandatory GAMSTOP participation |
| 31 March 2020 | All online operators must take part in GAMSTOP |
| November 2022 | LEBOM Limited suspended for failing to participate |
| 12 February 2023 | Marketing and new bonuses must stop on strong signs of harm |
| 1 May 2025 | Marketing opt-ins by product and channel required at sign-up |
| 31 October 2025 | Financial limit prompt before first deposit |
Support alongside self-exclusion
Blocking access deals with the opportunity to gamble, and talking to someone helps with the reasons behind it. The National Gambling Helpline (opens in a new tab), run by GamCare, is free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day, with live chat and WhatsApp as well. In Wales, the NHS Wales Helpline is on 0808 2819 265. NHS gambling clinics in England take self-referrals, and Gamblers Anonymous runs peer-support meetings.
Our safer gambling hub collects these services in one place, and bonuses and gambling harm looks at how promotions can feed harmful play.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: set a budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What are the UK self-exclusion rules?
They require every gambling business licensed for Great Britain to let you exclude yourself and to honour that choice. Online operators must also take part in GAMSTOP, the national scheme, so one request covers them all. While you are excluded, operators must refuse service, close your accounts, return your funds and stop marketing to you. Our UK casino bonus rules hub links the related codes, and the self-exclusion glossary entry gives a short definition.
How long does GAMSTOP self-exclusion last?
You choose 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. The period can’t be shortened or cancelled once it has started. When it ends, the exclusion stays in place until you contact GAMSTOP and ask for it to be removed, so access doesn’t come back by itself. Many people extend instead of removing it. Our GAMSTOP rules page explains the scheme’s operator duties and its enforcement history.
Can I cancel self-exclusion early?
No. Neither GAMSTOP nor a licensed operator will end the exclusion before the period you chose runs out. That is deliberate: the rule protects the decision you made at a calmer moment from a later urge to play. If you feel pressure to gamble during the period, the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free and open 24/7. Our guide on how to self-exclude explains how to choose the right length.
Do casinos have to join GAMSTOP?
Yes, every online operator licensed by the Gambling Commission. Participation has been mandatory since 31 March 2020 under social responsibility code 3.5.5, which says licensees must participate in the national multi-operator self-exclusion scheme. The Commission suspended one operator, LEBOM Limited, in November 2022 for failing to take part. A site that says it isn’t on GAMSTOP isn’t licensed for Great Britain. The GAMSTOP glossary entry summarises how the scheme works.
Can I get a casino bonus while self-excluded?
No. A licensed operator must refuse you service while you are excluded, so you can’t open an account, deposit or take up an offer, and it must take you off marketing lists within two days. Offers that seem to get round this come from unlicensed sites, which have none of the UK protections. Our answer on claiming a bonus after self-exclusion covers what happens once a period has ended.
What happens to money in my account when I self-exclude?
The operator must return it. Under LCCP 3.5.3, remote operators must close the accounts of a self-excluded customer and return any funds. If a balance is still showing after your exclusion starts, contact the operator in writing and ask how and when it will be paid back to you. Keep a record of the request. If it isn’t resolved, the complaints and ADR rules page explains how to escalate.
Does GAMSTOP cover betting shops and casinos on the high street?
No. GAMSTOP covers online gambling websites and apps only. High-street betting shops, bingo halls, adult gaming centres and land-based casinos have separate self-exclusion arrangements, which you join in person or through the venue. If you gamble both online and in person, you need both. GAMSTOP also leaves draw-based lotteries such as Lotto uncovered. The Commission’s self-exclusion guide and our safer gambling hub explain the other routes.
Is a time-out the same as self-exclusion?
No. A time-out is a short break at one operator, typically a day to a few weeks, and it can’t be reversed while it runs. Self-exclusion is longer, at least six months through GAMSTOP, and is meant for people who want to stop rather than pause. Some people take a time-out while they decide, then self-exclude. Our time-out glossary entry and cool-off entry explain the differences.
What else can I use alongside GAMSTOP?
A bank gambling block and device-blocking software are the usual additions. The Gambling Commission lists banks with blocks, including Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds, Monzo, NatWest, Santander and Starling, and Halifax and Lloyds offer Gamban. Deposit limits and reality checks are useful if you want to keep gambling within limits rather than stop. Our guide on how to set deposit limits and the reality check entry explain those tools.
Where can I get help if self-exclusion isn’t enough?
Talk to someone. The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare on 0808 8020 133, is free, confidential and open 24/7, with live chat and WhatsApp too. NHS gambling clinics in England accept self-referrals, Gamblers Anonymous runs peer meetings, and Wales has the NHS Wales Helpline on 0808 2819 265. Our safer gambling hub lists these services, and bonuses and gambling harm explains warning signs.
Related pages
Sources
- Self-exclusion (opens in a new tab)
- 3.5.3 Self-exclusion – remote SR code (opens in a new tab)
- 3.5.5 Remote multi-operator SR code (opens in a new tab)
- About | Gamstop Online (opens in a new tab)
- Chat to us now - GamCare (opens in a new tab)
- Block gambling payments with your bank (opens in a new tab)
- Gambling business suspended for failure to participate in GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab)
- Online operators required to participate in GAMSTOP from March 2020 (opens in a new tab)