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Gambling self-exclusion in the UK

For online gambling, start with GAMSTOP. For betting shops, casinos, bingo or arcades, use the separate venue routes below. You may need more than one registration.

Official sources checked . By Detachr Editorial Team.

Register with GAMSTOP for online gambling

Open official GAMSTOP registration →
  1. Open GAMSTOP and select Start. Use the official registration page. GAMSTOP accepts residents of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  2. Prepare your account details. Have your name, date of birth, current and previous addresses, email addresses and mobile numbers used for gambling accounts ready.
  3. Choose your minimum period. Select six months, one year, five years, or five years with auto-renewal. Read the conditions before choosing; you cannot cancel during the minimum period.
  4. Complete verification and save confirmation. Verify your email and follow the identity checks. If verification fails, use GAMSTOP's Contact Centre. Keep the confirmation email and update your details when they change.

Official instructions: GAMSTOP registration and eligibility · GAMSTOP registration terms

What GAMSTOP covers

GAMSTOP covers participating gambling services licensed in Great Britain. Check its company list for the operators you use. It does not filter every website on your device or register you with land-based schemes.

GAMSTOP says activation is generally within 24 hours; that timing is not guaranteed. Contact operators about withdrawable balances. Registration does not recover money already lost.

After the minimum period, exclusion does not simply switch off. Removal requires contacting GAMSTOP and a cooling-off period of at least 24 hours. Read the separate auto-renewal conditions if you choose that option.

Betting shops in Great Britain

Call Gamstop Betting Shops, formerly MOSES, on 0800 294 2060. Tell the team which areas you visit around home, work and social activities. They identify the shops to include.

Send a recent facial photo and photo ID through the route the team provides. Ask for confirmation of the named shops and start date. Coverage is for the shops on your agreement, not every shop nationwide.

The initial term is 12 months, with no early exit. The terms allow up to 10 working days for activation after registration is complete. Keep your agreement for the renewal and return conditions.

Casinos in Great Britain: SENSE

Open SENSE's enrolment page and follow Enrol onto SENSE to its Tuki portal. Prepare a head-and-shoulders photo and government photo ID. Alternatively, ask a participating casino manager to enrol you; you do not need to enter the gaming area.

SENSE covers licensed land-based casinos in Great Britain. High-street gaming arcades using casino branding have separate arrangements. The minimum is six months, extendable to one year, with renewal available. Read the thinking-period and removal rules before enrolling.

Bingo halls and arcades in Great Britain

For land-based bingo, contact your licensed bingo premises and ask about BISES. For arcades and other participating venues, ask staff about BACTA or SmartEXCLUSION, or call 01482 441 142 and choose option 1.

Before signing, ask which premises are included, what identification is needed, how long exclusion lasts and how it ends. These are separate schemes with their own agreements; GAMSTOP Online's periods do not apply to them.

Northern Ireland: check venue coverage separately

You can register with GAMSTOP if you live in Northern Ireland. The Great Britain venue schemes above do not establish a Northern Ireland-wide ban. For a local betting shop or other venue, ask that operator for its exclusion process and written coverage.

Dunlewey can help you find local support. Keep the operator's agreement and confirmation; asking for information alone does not complete an exclusion.

Use the scheme's own registration service

Send identity documents only through the scheme's official route. Detachr does not register you or collect your documents. Read each scheme's privacy notice: identity checks and sharing exclusion details with participating operators are part of the process.

Local support

After you register

Keep the confirmation and a list of anything outside the scheme. Check your bank's available gambling payment controls, and make a plan for sports-betting urges. These steps can be used alongside exclusion; none guarantees that every route to gambling is closed.

Illustration accompanying Detachr's self-exclusion guidance

Common questions

Is GAMSTOP free?
Yes. GAMSTOP is a free online self-exclusion service. Register directly through its official website. Official guidance.
Does GAMSTOP include betting shops and casinos?
No. Betting shops, land-based casinos, bingo halls and arcades have separate schemes. Use the route for each type of gambling you want to exclude from. Official guidance.
Can I use GAMSTOP in Northern Ireland?
Yes. GAMSTOP accepts Northern Ireland residents. Check local venue exclusions separately with the operator. Official guidance.

Official resources and references

This guide explains public registration instructions. We have not enrolled anyone or tested enforcement. Confirm your own agreement with the scheme. Detachr is not affiliated with these services and this page is not legal or clinical advice.

Detachr Editorial Team

Detachr's editorial team writes and updates practical gambling recovery content using official guidance and primary research where available. Our articles are educational and are not clinically reviewed or a substitute for professional advice.

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