How to exclude yourself from non-gamstop casinos

For many people, gambling is a fun way of adding a little excitement to their lives. Placing a small wager in a casino or playing a few hands of poker can be a nice way to add some entertainment to your weekend.

However, gambling can become a problem. Sometimes, we find we are betting money we can’t afford to lose. This is when self-exclusion schemes become essential. In the UK, Gamstop is the easiest way to keep yourself away from online casinos. But what can you do if you register with gambling platforms that are not part of the Gamstop system? This article will help you.

What is self-exclusion?

People who are concerned about their gambling habits often try to stop betting. However, this can be easier said than done, especially when gambling websites bombard the internet with advertising and promotions.

Self-exclusion is a system that helps individuals disable all their online gambling accounts — either for a specified period or permanently. After self-excluding and agreeing on a time frame (usually from six months to five years) the gambling platforms should close your accounts and return any funds held within them. In addition, the gaming provider should take all reasonable steps to prevent a self-excluded customer from returning during the agreed exclusion period.

If you register for a scheme like Gamstop and share as many contact details as possible, you can shut down most of the online casinos and bookmakers you might use. And, if you can’t access a gambling site, it’s much harder to gamble — which helps you get the habit under control.

Excluding from casinos that are not part of Gamstop

Gamstop works with an extensive range of gambling companies, both online and in person. However, it does not have agreements with every gambling provider in the UK.

Luckily, there are other ways to exclude yourself from gambling. The UK’s leading information source for anyone affected by problem gambling, GamCare, has several recommendations.

Excluding yourself from an individual gambling provider

If you want to self-exclude from one online gambling platform, visit the website and look for a page called ‘Responsible Gambling’ or ‘Safer Gambling’. This should provide full instructions on how to exclude yourself from that site. If you cannot find the advice you need, contact customer support.

To self-exclude from a physical gambling venue, such as an amusement arcade, betting shop, or casino, you should visit in person and talk to a staff member. Let them know that you want to self-exclude. It’s a good idea to bring along a couple of passport photos to attach to the self-exclusion form so that staff can recognize you on future visits.

The Moses self-exclusion system helps gamblers step away from multiple betting shops. In addition, the BACTA program helps gamblers to exclude themselves from several adult gaming centres and arcades, but only after an initial self-exclusion from a registered arcade.

Self-exclusion from land-based casinos

To self-exclude from the vast majority of land-based casinos in the UK, it’s possible to apply to the SENSE scheme. You can do this in person at any licensed casino in England, Scotland or Wales. Alternatively, you can register via email.

You’ll need to fill in a form, submit a recent photo and provide proof of ID. This should include a copy of your passport or driving licence, plus a copy of a recent utility bill showing your name and current address.

Self-exclusion from bingo halls

Licensed bingo halls in the UK operate their collective self-exclusion scheme via the Bingo Association. It is similar to the equivalents for casinos, betting shops, and AGCs. For full details, see the Bingo Association’s website.

Other options

If most of your gambling is online, it might make sense to use blockers to prevent you from accessing gambling websites. There are two types of blocking software available.

• Gambling specific: These blockers only prevent access to gambling-related websites. GamCare is working to promote its GamBan software. Other gambling-specific blockers include Gamblock and BetBlocker.
• General: These are often found as part of antivirus or IT security packages. They enable users to tailor their restrictions to block different types of online content. In addition to blocking gambling sites, they can be used to deny access to a range of adult material. NetNanny is one of the leading general blocking software solutions.