Overview of current self-exclusion options

Self-exclusion is a responsible gambling tool that allows players to block themselves from gambling-related activities for a certain period of time.

Currently, almost all operators operate under a license that defines the rules and scope of self-exclusion. Moreover, virtually all operators offer some sort of self-exclusion to their players, whose scope is highly dependent on regulatory requirements and decisions of individual operators.

There are currently two basic levels of self-exclusion:

1. Single-operator level: Typically, when self-excluding in an online casino, the self-exclusion does not extend to other operators. This creates a problem: self-excluded players can freely access and play at other casino websites, bringing the overall effectiveness of such self-exclusion schemes into question. The Global Self-Exclusion System (GSES) was created to offer a solution that eliminates this problem.
2. Nationwide/license-wide level: Some countries and online gambling regulators, such as the UK, Sweden, or the Netherlands, operate wider self-exclusion schemes, which require their licensees (operators) to be part of nationwide (license-wide) self-exclusion schemes. These allow players to self-exclude from all casinos licensed in a specific country or by a specific regulator at once, creating a better level of protection.

As of this moment, a player struggling with problem gambling symptoms cannot self-exclude on a global scale. This means that although the player self-excludes on one of the above-mentioned levels, there are still many ways in which players can bypass these self-imposed measures.

However, in order to reach somewhat of a global protection, you can use one of the blocking apps, such as GamBan or BetBlocker, to block access to online gambling sites and apps on your devices.