Complete Guide to Self Exclusion

The gambling market has greatly increased in recent years, however, this also came with a set of problems because according to the specialists from begambleaware, 3 to 5 out of 100 gamblers have an addiction problem.

Gambling addiction (also called compulsive gambling) is the uncontrollable urge to risk and gamble even if you lose all your money.  Because things can become so serious, we have compiled a list of advice to guide you through some steps of the process.

Self-exclusion overview

On paper, gambling is supposed to be fun. However, without being careful, what yesterday seemed harmless can quickly turn into a nightmare for both the addicted gambler and the close ones.

The recommended course of action is to self-exclude at least for a while from gambling.  

3 ways to self-exclude

There are plenty of ways and apps nowadays through which you can exclude yourself partially or permanently from one or multiple gambling websites at once and here are the details for each of them.

Self-exclusion from just one gambling website or app:

This is for users that are gambling at only one website and don’t need to bother with a specific app or any sort of third party to do it for them. You just need to follow some simple steps and you will be done in minutes.

• Go to the casino operator websites

• Find the “Responsible Gambling” section

• Select self-exclusion and follow the instructions

Some websites will not allow this as an option. In this case, you will have to contact customer support and make an official request. 

Self-exclusion from one arcade, betting shop or casino:

Here the process is a little bit more complex because you have to talk to the shop manager or a member of the staff and make an official request. Some forms of identification will be required and you will be offered a copy of your self-exclusion form.

Self-exclusion from all gambling websites:

If you remember all the online casinos where you have an account open and you don’t want to go through another app or third party, you can repeat the process from above and self-exclude yourself from each of them.

However, if the number of websites is quite large this work would be daunting and you should use an app. 

How to opt for brand exclusion

Brand exclusion is the process of excluding yourself or taking a break for a certain period of time from a specific online casino. The process is somehow similar to the account closure, however, self-exclusion is just temporarily while account closure is permanent. 

If you wish to take a break from a particular gambling website, follow the instructions below:

• Log in to your player account

• Look for the self-exclusion option which can usually be found in the Responsible Gambling section

• Carefully read the terms and conditions

• Follow the next instructions and choose an exclusion timeframe

• Wait for the confirmation

Once you proceed with the self-exclusion action, the casino will temporarily close your account for the timeframe you have chosen and you will be removed from the email or SMS marketing database.

You also can’t cancel the exclusion process before the set period of time expires. If you try to do so, the casino might decide to close your account permanently. Any remaining cash in your balance will be paid out through the last withdrawal method used.

4 apps for blocking mobile gambling

For mobile devices users, there are plenty of apps on the market that allows you to block gambling on their mobile device and also find helpful resources. 

Regulations in Online Gambling

Self-exclusion is a process that has many hidden details unfortunately and most of them depend on the jurisdiction you are gambling in.

Each authority may or may not demand from its operators to offer a self-exclusion option for their clients and may also require additional conditions for this process.

For example, each of the gambling authorities can decide around the minimum and maximum duration of self-exclusion and the revocability of the process.

In Italy, the minimum duration for self-exclusion is not specified, however, the minimum duration for revocability is a huge 7 months timeframe.

On the opposite side, we have Alderney where there are no defined conditions, and the revocability timeframe is just 24 hours. 

The same difference can be found regarding temporary or permanent self-exclusion and marketing restrictions. This is precisely why you need to carefully read the terms and conditions presented to you by the operator to fully understand what are the laws in your area.

Most jurisdictions will automatically remove a player from the marketing database, however, except for Curacao, none of them will automatically redirect a player towards a help center that deals with gambling addiction.

A third party is represented by apps that allow you to forcibly self-exclude yourself from multiple sites at once. These jurisdictions are not against these 3rd parties, they just don’t have any system in place to fully support them or guarantee their efficacity. 

Third parties that allow multiple self-exclusions are great, however, depending on the jurisdiction it is a good idea to double-check their effectiveness to make sure that your account is closed. 

We don’t know if these apps will be fully supported or integrated soon, but due to the complexity of the process, chances are very slim. 

What happens with my funds after self-exclusion?

Many players fear that they will lose their funds entirely when self-excluding from an online casino or that all their previous wins will be forfeited. 

You can rest assured that you won’t lose any money you currently have in your account balance.

All your cash will be sent to you through the last used withdrawal method. If that specific method is no longer in use or available, you will be contacted by customer support.

Difference between self-exclusion and account closure

Because “self-exclusion” and “account closure” are two terms that you will encounter often when reading about gambling addiction we decided to make some clarification and talk a bit about each one of them, because even similar, they are two separate things. 

Account closure can be voluntary when you decide to close your account at an online casino or involuntary when the gambling website closes your account by force for fraudulent activities, suspicions of gambling problems, or violation of terms.

It’s very easy to close your account voluntarily by following the next steps:

• Log in to your online casino

• Head to the account settings section or responsible gambling section.

• Select “Account Closure”

• Follow the next steps and wait for the confirmation

The operators might ask you some questions and might perform an identity check to ensure that the account you are trying to close is indeed yours.

Self-exclusion is the conscious decision of a gambler to temporarily or permanently renounce the services of an online casino operator. 

Some websites will allow you to self exclude for a determined time before you can decide whether to permanently close your account or reactivate it. 

There are also some apps on the market that allow you to self-exclude from multiple casino operators at once.

How to substitute gambling

Where there is addiction there are cravings and strong urges that compel you to perform the desired action. Surely, just like other addictions, craving for a gambling session may be intense but luckily, there are plenty of ways to combat that and replace it with a beneficial action.

Firstly, you need to understand where the need to gamble comes from so you can replace it with something else. Once you fully build an understanding of the whole situation is very easy to find a substitute that will distract you.

There are plenty of reasons why people gamble, besides the obvious of being fun and the potential of high rewards. That’s why we will analyze each situation and suggest an alternative. 

• Looking for excitement - There is nothing like the adrenaline rush that kicks in at the moment you see a big win on the screen, however, you would be amazed to find out that this is one of the easiest needs that can be replaced.  For example, you can try to hit the local gym or maybe even try a new exciting sport. 

• Social Needs - As humans, we are social creatures and we feel the need to connect with other human beings and interact with them, especially in situations that we enjoy the most. Unfortunately, gambling is the perfect opportunity for many to socialize and can soon degenerate if it becomes the only socialization meaning. 

Instead of gambling to meet and interact with people, a great idea would be to join a class or simply volunteer in your community. You can make new friends and you will also feel good about yourself for making something that matters.

• Looking to relax - If you are just gambling to relax a bit after a stressful day, you can simply replace this with a TV session or some meditation. Studies have shown that meditation can improve not one but more aspects of your life. You can also try to get a massage from time to time. It can work wonders!

• Looking for a distraction - This one is the hardest. Some gamblers fall into the addiction side because they are playing to take their mind off things or they are simply going through a tough situation. 

Unfortunately, this is not something you can fix alone or find an easy substitute for. If you are experiencing some bad feeling that you are trying to wash away through gambling, try talking to a counselor. 

5 ways to postpone gambling

Sometimes quitting right away can be extremely difficult and it’s one of the major issues why most gamblers that struggle with addiction fall back into the same habit. Trying to fight the urge without a plan just by sheer will is not something that works for everyone. 

Instead of trying to wage a battle of will with gambling, try to postpone your gambling sessions a bit. Instead of just quitting right away, the goal is to increase the timeframe between sessions until you can either solve the issue or quit it entirely. Here are 5 tips and tricks you can use to maintain abstinence. 

• Remember that to gamble is to lose. It’s neither an entirely false nor entirely true statement, however, chances are that you have a gambling problem, you will more likely lose than win. 

Reminding yourself that the house always has the upper hand and further understanding how the mechanics of casino games work will quickly take your mind out of gambling. 

Truth is, no matter if you lose or win, the house will always win more or less. It’s you the one that risks the most, not the house. 

• Make a little bit of planning to avoid leaving out empty spaces in the day that can be replaced with gambling sessions. To put it simply, try to keep yourself busy all the time with other things and don’t allow boredom to make a nest. 

• Make peace with the casino and the game that made you lose. Leave yesterday in the past where it belongs along with the losses.

Surely, it’s tempting to gamble again and win to get even with the casino, however, gambling involves risk and another loss will not solve any of your problems but instead will only make them worse. It’s better to just forgive yourself for the loss and move on. 

• Try to get back to an old hobby.  Studies show that addictions of any nature will make you lose interest in hobbies. Try to go back to an old hobby or simply, if you are not satisfied, find a new one. 

The goal is to keep your mind focused on a different thing and replace the negative addiction with something positive. It will boost your self-esteem but will also mark the start of your new life. 

• Identify the triggers. All gamblers have a trigger or reason that makes them gamble. Once you can identify it and fully understand it, it’s very easy to also control it or replace it with something else. 

Final thoughts

Gambling can be fun if it can be kept under control. As experts advise, it should not be seen as a source of income or a means to solve your day-to-day problems. 

Keep in mind that all the information provided by us is merely a guideline and if you think you or someone close has a problem with gambling, you should seek specialized help.