Responsible gambling
Every major self-exclusion scheme by jurisdiction - what each one covers, how long it lasts, and how to enrol. If you need to stop, the right tool exists for your country.
Self-exclusion is a voluntary, legally-binding instruction to one or more gambling operators (or to a national register, or to a device) to refuse you service for a chosen period. Once set, it cannot be reversed until the period ends - that's the point. The short-term cooling-off period is something different (see Time-out below).
The right tool depends on what you need to block: a single operator, every operator in your country, or every gambling site on a specific device. The list below covers all three angles.
The most robust setup is national register plus BetBlocker - the register catches licensed operators, the app catches everything else.
The UK national self-exclusion register. Once registered, every UKGC-licensed online casino, sportsbook, bingo and poker site is required to block your account for the duration you choose. Mandatory for all UKGC operators. Registration takes about 10 minutes and is entirely free.
Visit GAMSTOP →A free app that installs on phones, tablets and computers to block access to gambling sites at the device level. Works globally and independently of any operator or national scheme. The block survives reinstalls and factory resets - it cannot be removed within the chosen period.
Visit BetBlocker →Sweden's national self-exclusion register, mandatory for all Spelinspektionen-licensed operators. Registration via BankID. Operators must block self-excluded players at signup and login.
Visit Spelpaus →Germany's national self-exclusion system, operated by the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL). Required across all licensed operators in Germany - online casinos, sports betting, lotteries. Active since 2022 under the new German State Treaty on Gambling.
Visit OASIS →The provincial responsible gambling programme used by BCLC (British Columbia Lottery Corporation) and MBLL (Manitoba). Provides voluntary self-exclusion from PlayNow.com and in-province casinos. MGM Resorts also operates a GameSense programme at US properties.
Visit GameSense →Ontario does not yet operate a single province-wide self-exclusion register equivalent to GAMSTOP, but iGaming Ontario-registered operators must offer per-account self-exclusion and link to the Responsible Gambling Council's ConnexOntario helpline (1-866-531-2600).
Visit iCAP (Ontario) →The Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) operates New Jersey's self-exclusion list. Registration blocks the player from every online casino and Atlantic City property licensed by the state. Mandatory for all NJ-licensed operators.
Visit New Jersey Self-Exclusion →Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board self-exclusion register. Covers iGaming, sports betting and casino properties. Operators must verify against the list at every login.
Visit Pennsylvania Self-Exclusion →Time-out (or cooling-off period): a short, automatically-reversible block of 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month or 6 weeks. Available at every UKGC operator and most regulated casinos. Reactivates on its own when the period ends. Use this when you want a break, not a stop.
Self-exclusion: a longer, non-reversible block (minimum 6 months at most schemes). Requires manual application to lift after the period ends. Use this when "I want to stop gambling" is the honest answer.
If you're not sure which you need, start with a time-out. You can always extend or move to self-exclusion later. The reverse - undoing self-exclusion you regret - is intentionally hard.
Most national schemes do not allow third-party self-exclusion (the affected person must register themselves). Resources for supporters:
