Excluding yourself from online gambling might seem like a big step. But sometimes it’s the exact right thing you should do.
Self-exclusion from online gambling is when you take a long-term break. This is something you can enable on your online gambling accounts, which means you are excluding yourself from online gambling for the duration of that break.
If you’re worried that you are displaying problem gambling signs, then you should take steps to exclude yourself from online gambling. And if you think a loved one has a gambling problem, you should encourage them to self-exclude too.
What you need to know about excluding yourself from online gambling
How long does self-exclusion last?
Self-exclusions are long-term breaks from gambling. They are a minimum of six months long or you can decide to permanently exclude yourself from online gambling.
How do you self-exclude?
Simply go to your account settings and you should be able to find an option to self-exclude relatively easily. If you can’t find the option, contact the site’s customer care team, who can guide you through the process.
What types of gambling does self-exclusion cover?
On some websites, self-exclusion stops you from all forms of gambling. However, on others, you can decide to self-exclude yourself from one form of gambling and not others.
If you suspect you have a problem with gambling, you should exclude yourself from all forms of gambling.
Can I still gamble on other sites when I’ve self-excluded?
Sometimes self-exclusions will carry through to other sites automatically. For instance, if the sites are owned by the same parent company.
However, this isn’t always the case. We think you should actively self-exclude from all your gambling sites to remove temptation during your self-exclusion period.
Can I stop my self-exclusion?
No, when you’ve chosen to self-exclude for a certain period of time, you can’t stop or reverse this decision. You also can’t speed it up. You must wait for that period of time to elapse before you can gamble again.
What happens if I still have money in my account when I self-exclude?
If you still have money in your gambling account when you self-exclude, you can still access it. You can log in and withdraw it at any time.
Will I still get updates from gambling sites when I self-exclude?
On most gambling sites, when you choose to self-exclude, you’re automatically unsubscribed from marketing email lists. If you’re still getting them, hit unsubscribe.
If you have mobile or desktop apps, you might also still get push notifications from them. Uninstall them as soon as you can, so you’re not bothered unexpectedly.
And while you’re at it, unfollow and unsubscribe from any gambling or gambling-related sites on your social media accounts.
Get the help you need
If you are excluding yourself from online gambling because you’re worried you have a problem, there are other things you need to do as well.
You should seek help from professional organizations, who are equipped to guide you in the ways you need. In the USA, you can call the National Council on Problem Gambling on their phone line at 1800 522 4700 or access resources on their website.
UK residents can contact Be Gamble Aware via their phone line 0808 8020 133 or online. And if you’re outside of the UK and the USA, you can find international help organizations near you.