How to self-exclude from slot sites
To self-exclude from slot sites in the UK, register with GAMSTOP, the free national scheme that blocks you from every UK-licensed online gambling site for six months, one year or five years. If you only want to leave one site, use the self-exclusion option in that site's safer gambling menu instead. Either way, the exclusion cannot be cancelled before the minimum period ends.
By the Best Slots UK team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- GAMSTOP covers all online gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain; a single-site exclusion covers one operator.
- GAMSTOP periods are six months, one year, five years, or five years with auto renewal.
- Registration needs every email, phone number and address you have used with gambling sites, so the block can match all your accounts.
- The exclusion does not end by itself: after the minimum period you must contact GAMSTOP, and removal takes at least 24 hours.
- Self-exclusion does not cover betting shops, land-based casinos or unlicensed sites, so add a bank block or blocking software.
- National scheme
- GAMSTOP (free)
- GAMSTOP periods
- 6 months, 1 year, 5 years
- Usually active within
- 24 hours
- Cancel early?
- No
- After the period
- Stays until you ask to remove it
How to self-exclude from slot sites: two routes
Self-exclusion asks gambling businesses to refuse you service for a set period. In the UK you can do it with one operator, or with all licensed online operators at once.
| GAMSTOP | One operator | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | All online gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain | Every brand run by that operator, as set out in its terms |
| Where to set it | The GAMSTOP website | The site's safer gambling menu or customer support |
| Periods | 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or 5 years with auto renewal | At least 6 months; options vary by site |
| End early? | No | No |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Best when | You hold several accounts or want a clean break from all online gambling | One site is the problem and you want to keep others |
If you are unsure which to pick, GAMSTOP is usually the safer choice: new accounts at other sites are blocked too, which closes the most common gap.
Registering with GAMSTOP, step by step
GAMSTOP's terms of use set out what you need to provide. Having it ready before you start makes registration quicker.
- Gather your details: full name and title, date of birth, home address with postcode, and every other address, email and mobile number you have used with gambling sites.
- Go to the GAMSTOP website and choose to register.
- Enter your details, including the extra emails, numbers and addresses.
- Verify your email address using the link GAMSTOP sends.
- Complete the identity check, which GAMSTOP carries out through TransUnion or Onfido. If it fails, you may be asked to send official ID to its contact centre.
- Choose your exclusion period.
- Withdraw any money left in gambling accounts, if you have not done so already, and keep a note of the date you registered.
Choosing a GAMSTOP period
The period you choose is a minimum. You cannot shorten it, and GAMSTOP's terms state plainly that you will not be able to deactivate the exclusion before the minimum period ends.
| Period | What happens at the end | Who it may suit |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | Stays active until you ask for removal | A first exclusion, or a reset after a hard spell |
| 1 year | Stays active until you ask for removal | Covering a full cycle of paydays, holidays and big sporting events |
| 5 years | Stays active until you ask for removal | Someone sure they want gambling out of their life |
| 5 years with auto renewal | A new 5-year period starts automatically, up to four times | Someone who wants the decision to stay made |
With auto renewal, the terms say you can only turn the renewal off during the last six months of a five-year period. That narrow window is intentional.
What happens after you self-exclude
GAMSTOP says it generally activates exclusions within 24 hours, while noting it cannot promise that timeframe and that operators' own systems affect how quickly the block applies. Once active, licensed sites should stop you logging in or opening new accounts, and stop sending you gambling marketing.
- Existing accounts are blocked or closed by each operator that matches your details.
- New sign-ups at UK-licensed sites should be refused if your details match.
- Marketing from those businesses should stop.
- Balances are handled by each operator; withdrawing before you register avoids any delay.
In the first 24 hours, before you can be sure the block is live, set a time-out on the accounts you use most. It closes the gap while GAMSTOP takes effect.
Self-excluding from a single slot site
Every UK-licensed operator must offer self-exclusion of its own. It suits someone who wants to leave one site but keep another account, though in practice moving between sites is how many exclusions get undermined.
- Log in and open the account menu.
- Go to Safer gambling, Responsible gambling or Gambling controls.
- Choose Self-exclusion (sometimes listed under Account closure).
- Select a period of at least six months and give a reason if asked.
- Confirm, then check your email for written confirmation of the end date.
Exclusion usually applies to all brands the operator runs under that licence, so check the confirmation. Our pages on Coral and Ladbrokes safer gambling tools explain how one operator handles two well-known brands.
What self-exclusion does not cover
GAMSTOP covers online gambling businesses licensed to serve customers in Great Britain. It is not a complete block on every form of gambling.
| Not covered by GAMSTOP | How to close the gap |
|---|---|
| Betting shops | GAMSTOP now offers a separate scheme for betting shops; ask in your local shop too |
| Land-based casinos | The casino industry's own multi-site scheme; ask any casino reception |
| Bingo halls and arcades | Ask the venue about its sector's self-exclusion scheme |
| Unlicensed offshore sites | Blocking software and a bank gambling block |
Unlicensed sites are the biggest risk, because they ignore GAMSTOP by design and often advertise themselves as 'not on GAMSTOP'. They also lack UK protections such as the 10x wagering cap and stake limits. The warning signs are set out in how to spot unlicensed slot sites.
Ending a self-exclusion: what the rules say
GAMSTOP will not remove your exclusion automatically when the minimum period ends. According to its terms, it continues for up to a further seven years until you act. To end it, you contact GAMSTOP's contact centre, and deactivation will not happen for at least 24 hours after your request, with the block staying live in the meantime.
Single-site exclusions follow similar logic: returning requires a positive request from you, not just the passage of time. If you are thinking about returning, it helps to decide first what limits you will set, and to talk it through with someone. Our guide to setting deposit limits covers the controls to put in place before any first deposit.
Adding blocks alongside self-exclusion
Self-exclusion works on the casino's side. Pairing it with tools on your own side makes it much harder to slip through a gap. Many UK banks let you block gambling payments on your debit card, and blocking software such as BetBlocker or Gamban stops gambling sites loading on your devices. GamCare lists both among its self-help tools.
The page on how to block gambling sites explains each option, including the built-in content controls on iPhone.
If a site lets you play while you are excluded
If you can still log in to a UK-licensed site, or open a new account, after GAMSTOP should be active, stop and contact the operator's support in writing with your registration date. Check that the details on that account, such as an old email or address, were included in your registration, and update GAMSTOP if not. If the operator does not resolve it, you can take a formal complaint further; our guide on how to complain to a slot site explains the route. You can also check a site's status with our guide to checking a slot site's licence.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
How long does GAMSTOP take to work?
GAMSTOP says it generally activates self-exclusions within 24 hours, though it notes it cannot promise this and that operators' own systems affect how quickly the block is applied. In practice, it is sensible to treat the first day as a gap. Setting a time-out on the accounts you use most covers that window. If you can still access a UK-licensed site after a day or two, contact the operator and check your GAMSTOP details match that account. Our GAMSTOP glossary entry summarises how the scheme works.
Can I cancel GAMSTOP early?
No. GAMSTOP's terms state that you will not be able to deactivate your self-exclusion until the end of your minimum exclusion period, whether that is six months, one year or five years. Customer support cannot make an exception. This is what makes self-exclusion effective: it removes the option at exactly the moments when you might want it back. If you are worried about committing to a long period, six months is the shortest option and can be extended later. Shorter tools are covered in taking a break from slots.
What happens when my GAMSTOP period ends?
Nothing changes automatically. GAMSTOP does not remove your exclusion at the end of the minimum period; according to its terms, the exclusion continues for up to a further seven years until you act. To end it, you contact GAMSTOP's contact centre, and deactivation will not happen for at least 24 hours after your request. You can also choose to extend instead. If you do return to gambling, set a deposit limit before the first deposit, as explained in our guide to setting deposit limits.
Does GAMSTOP cover all UK slot sites?
It covers online gambling businesses licensed by the Gambling Commission to serve customers in Great Britain, which includes every UK-licensed slot site. Participation is a licence requirement for online operators. It does not cover betting shops, land-based casinos, bingo halls or arcades, which have their own schemes, or unlicensed offshore sites, which ignore it. Adding a bank gambling block and blocking software closes most of the remaining gaps. Our guide on spotting unlicensed slot sites explains how to recognise sites outside the scheme.
What details do I need to register with GAMSTOP?
GAMSTOP's terms list your full name and title, date of birth, home address and postcode, plus any other addresses, email addresses and mobile numbers you have used with gambling operators. You need to verify your email, and your identity is checked through TransUnion or Onfido; if that fails, you may need to send official ID. Including old details matters, because operators match exclusions against what is on each account. Keep your details up to date afterwards. Our self-exclusion entry explains how matching works in general terms.
Is self-excluding from one site enough?
It can be if you only ever used that site, but it often is not. A single-site exclusion leaves every other UK-licensed site open, and opening a new account elsewhere takes minutes. If the reason for excluding is that gambling feels hard to control, GAMSTOP covers all licensed online operators in one step and is usually the stronger choice. Single-site exclusion still has a place, for example if one site's promotions keep pulling you back. Our checklist of signs slots are becoming a problem may help you judge.
What happens to money left in my account?
Operators are expected to return remaining balances when you self-exclude, but the process and timing are set by each site, and it can take longer once your account is blocked. The simplest approach is to withdraw everything before you register. If you have already excluded and still have a balance, contact the operator's customer support and ask how it will be paid. UK casinos cannot let you reverse a withdrawal, so once requested it is on its way. Our guide on how to withdraw slot winnings explains timings.
Does GAMSTOP stop gambling adverts?
It stops marketing from registered online gambling businesses, such as emails, texts and app notifications from the sites you held accounts with. GamCare notes that registration also stops gambling marketing messages during the exclusion. It does not remove general advertising such as TV adverts, sponsorship or social media posts you see as part of the wider public. Unfollowing gambling accounts and using ad preferences on social media can reduce what you see. Our responsible gambling hub lists other tools that help.
Can I self-exclude from betting shops and casinos too?
Yes, but through separate schemes, because GAMSTOP's online scheme does not cover premises. GAMSTOP's website now refers to a separate scheme for betting shops, and land-based casinos, bingo halls and arcades each run their own self-exclusion arrangements, usually set up at the venue. Staff can explain the process. If you gamble in several places, setting up each scheme, plus a bank gambling block, covers most routes. Our directory of gambling support services lists organisations that can help you plan it.
Can someone else self-exclude me?
No. Self-exclusion has to be requested by the person who will be excluded, because it relies on their identity details and consent. Family members can still help practically: sitting with someone while they register, helping them find old email addresses and phone numbers, or setting up bank blocks together. GamCare offers support to people affected by someone else's gambling, including advice on having the conversation. Our directory of gambling support services explains where family members can turn.