Gambling self-exclusion explained: how GAMSTOP, OASIS, BetStop and other registers work

Last reviewed: 12 May 2026

Self-exclusion is a free, voluntary way to ask gambling companies to stop letting you play. In several countries you can do this once, centrally, and have it apply to every licensed operator at the same time. It is one of the most effective single steps available, because it removes access at the moment a craving hits rather than relying on willpower alone.

How self-exclusion works

You register your details with a scheme and choose how long the exclusion should last. During that period, operators covered by the scheme must refuse to open new accounts for you, close or freeze existing ones, and stop sending you marketing. A national register does this across every licensed operator at once; an operator-level exclusion applies only to that single company, so you would need to repeat it for each site.

National registers compared

Set-up details and exact durations are confirmed on each scheme's official site — see the links on the help by country page.

What self-exclusion does not cover

A register only binds operators it regulates. A UK register, for example, does not stop sites that hold no GB licence — typically offshore sites — from accepting you, which is why pairing self-exclusion with a device blocker matters. Self-exclusion also does not cover land-based venues unless you sign up to a separate in-person scheme, and it cannot recover money already lost. Treat it as a strong barrier, not a complete wall.

Make it harder to undo

Self-exclusion is most effective when combined with other barriers. Add a free or paid blocking tool so gambling sites will not load on your phone or computer, switch on a gambling block with your bank, and tell someone you trust what you have done. If you are setting all of this up at once, the step-by-step on how to stop gambling online walks through the order that tends to work best.

How long should you exclude for?

There is no single right answer, but a longer term is usually the safer choice. A short exclusion can pass just as a difficult patch is easing, and the moment access returns is often when the risk of a relapse is highest. Many people find that picking the longest option a scheme offers — and treating the end date as a review point rather than a deadline — removes the pressure of a looming "allowed to gamble again" date. Because most registers will not lift an exclusion early, you are not committing to a number you can casually reverse, so it is worth erring on the side of longer rather than shorter.