Self-Exclusion from Online Gambling

How self-exclusion works with a single operator and through national schemes, how it differs from a time-out, and what else helps.

By the Gambling Hero editorial team · Checked October 25, 2026

Short answer

Self-exclusion is a formal request to be blocked from gambling for a set period, either with one operator or through a national scheme such as GAMSTOP, Spelpaus or Cruks that covers every licensed operator in a country. Your account is closed, your balance returned and marketing stopped. National schemes do not cover sites licensed elsewhere.

Self-exclusion is a formal request to be blocked from gambling for a set period. It is one of the strongest tools available if gambling has started to cost more money, time or peace of mind than you want it to. This guide explains how self-exclusion works, how national schemes differ between countries, how it compares with shorter breaks, and what else you can put in place to make it hold.

What self-exclusion is

When you self-exclude, you ask a gambling operator, or a national register covering many operators, to stop you from gambling for a period you choose. In regulated markets, that usually means your account is closed or locked, any remaining balance is returned, marketing stops and you cannot open a new account while the exclusion runs.

The UK Gambling Commission’s rules for remote operators show what this involves in practice. Operators must take all reasonable steps to refuse service to people who have self-excluded, close their accounts and return any funds, and remove them from marketing databases, or flag them so no marketing is sent, within two days of receiving the completed request. Customers must be able to self-exclude both through customer services and through an automated online process, and operators must point them to counselling and support services. The Commission also tells players that it is their responsibility to stick to the agreement, and that they can report an operator that let them gamble while excluded.

Two levels: single-operator and national schemes

There are two ways to self-exclude:

With one operator. You use the self-exclusion option in your account settings or contact customer support. The block applies to that operator, and sometimes to all brands it runs.
Through a national scheme. You register once and are blocked from every operator licensed in that country. This is more effective, because it removes the option of simply opening an account somewhere else.

National schemes have one important limit: they cover only operators licensed in that country. Sites licensed elsewhere are not connected, which is why blocking software and bank blocks, covered below, are worth adding.

National self-exclusion schemes by country

Country	Scheme	Periods	Covers
Great Britain	GAMSTOP	Minimum periods of 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or 5 years with auto-renewal	Gambling websites and apps of companies licensed in Great Britain
Sweden	Spelpaus	10 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or until further notice (at least 12 months)	All gambling licensed in Sweden, online and land-based
Denmark	ROFUS	24-hour pause; 1, 3 or 6 months; or final exclusion	Online gambling, physical casinos and betting in shops
Netherlands	Cruks	At least 6 months	Legal Dutch providers online, in arcades and in casinos
Germany	OASIS	Self-exclusion of at least 3 months; third-party exclusion for 12 months	Licensed gambling in Germany
Spain	RGIAJ	Indefinite; cancellation can be requested after 6 months	Online gambling and some in-person games
Ontario (Canada)	BetGuard	6 months, 1 year, 5 years or a custom term	All Ontario-regulated online gaming sites, including OLG’s

Great Britain: GAMSTOP

GAMSTOP is free and lets you block access to the gambling websites and apps of companies licensed in Great Britain. Its help pages list minimum exclusion periods of six months, one year and five years, plus a five-year option with auto-renewal. The UK Gambling Commission required all online operators to participate from 31 March 2020. For land-based gambling there are separate schemes: GAMSTOP for betting shops (0800 294 2060), SENSE for licensed casinos and a scheme for bingo premises, among others.

Sweden: Spelpaus

Spelpaus applies to all gambling companies licensed in Sweden and covers online gambling, gambling agents, racecourses and gaming venues. You can choose 10 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or “until further notice”, which lasts at least 12 months. According to Spelpaus, once the exclusion starts it cannot be cancelled or ended early.

Denmark: ROFUS

ROFUS is the Danish Gambling Authority’s register of voluntarily excluded players. It offers a 24-hour pause, temporary exclusion for one, three or six months, and a final exclusion, and it covers online gambling, physical casinos and betting in shops. The ROFUS team can be reached on 72 38 60 20.

Netherlands: Cruks

Registration in Cruks lasts at least six months. Once registered, you cannot gamble with legal Dutch providers online, in arcades or in casinos. Relatives, friends and certain others can ask the Kansspelautoriteit to register a person with gambling problems if other help has not worked.

Germany: OASIS

Germany’s OASIS player exclusion system is free. According to the GGL, a self-exclusion lasts at least three months and a third-party exclusion 12 months. German licensed sites also have a panic button that triggers a 24-hour block.

Spain: RGIAJ

Spain’s Registro General de Interdicciones de Acceso al Juego, run by the DGOJ, blocks access to games that require player identification, mainly online gambling. You can register online with an electronic certificate, in person at an official registry such as a post office or police station, or through an Android app using a DNIe 3.0. The registration is indefinite, and you can request cancellation only after six months.

Ontario: BetGuard

Ontario launched BetGuard, a centralised self-exclusion system run by iGaming Ontario, in 2026. People aged 19 and over can opt out of all Ontario-regulated online gaming platforms, including OLG’s websites, for six months, one year, five years or a custom term. While excluded, you cannot access existing accounts or create new ones and will not receive marketing from these sites. The AGCO’s standards require people to be added to the registry within one hour of registering, operators to stop marketing to them within 24 hours, and operators to keep their own site-level self-exclusion as well.

Other countries and some US states run their own programmes through the state or national regulator. Our country pages list the scheme where you live, where one exists.

Operator-level self-exclusion outside national schemes

Where there is no national scheme, or for operators licensed elsewhere, you self-exclude with each operator separately. Rules depend on the licence. Under the Malta Gaming Authority’s Player Protection Directive, for example, players can self-exclude for a definite or indefinite period covering all games and channels. Extending an exclusion takes effect immediately, while a request to shorten it takes effect only after at least 24 hours for a definite period and at least seven days for an indefinite one. The directive also says exclusion must not stop you from withdrawing your funds.

If you self-exclude this way, do it with every operator where you hold an account, and ask each one to confirm in writing.

Cooling-off versus self-exclusion

A cooling-off period, also called a time-out or break, is a shorter pause. It is useful after a heavy session or during a stressful period, but it is not designed for situations in which gambling has become hard to control.

	Cooling-off / time-out	Self-exclusion
Typical length	A day to a few months	Months to years; some schemes also offer shorter terms
Examples	Ontario breaks of one day, one week, one month, two months or three months; Germany’s 24-hour panic button; ROFUS 24-hour pause	GAMSTOP, Spelpaus, Cruks, BetGuard
Account	Locked, usually reopens automatically	Closed or locked, balance returned
Scope	Usually one operator	One operator or all operators in a national scheme
Ending early	Depends on the operator	Usually not possible

If you find yourself taking repeated breaks, or reopening an account as soon as a break ends, that is a sign that a longer self-exclusion and support may help more. Deposit limits are another option to use alongside either.

Make it stronger: blocking software and bank blocks

Self-exclusion is more effective with other barriers in place, because it does not cover sites outside the scheme. GamCare, the UK support charity, lists several options:

Gambling blocking software: BetBlocker works on Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android and Fire OS; Gamban works on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. GamCare notes that some blocking software is free and some costs money.
Bank gambling blocks: according to GamCare, most UK bank and building society accounts now let you block gambling transactions. Check your banking app or ask your bank whether it offers one.
Device controls: built-in parental controls on phones and tablets can block gambling content. GamCare suggests having someone else set the password.
Your internet provider: ask whether it offers an adult-content filter that includes gambling.

A step-by-step plan

Register with your national scheme if your country has one.
Self-exclude directly with any operator where you have an account, especially those licensed elsewhere.
Withdraw or request the return of any remaining balances.
Install blocking software on every device you use and switch on your bank’s gambling block.
Unsubscribe from gambling emails and texts, and unfollow gambling accounts on social media.
Tell someone you trust, and contact a support service.

Where to get help

Great Britain: GamCare’s helpline, 0808 80 20 133, free, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Ontario: ConnexOntario, 1-866-531-2600, free and open 24/7, covers problem gambling as well as mental health and addiction.
Sweden: Stödlinjen, 020-81 91 00, free and anonymous, run by the Stockholm County healthcare region with support from the Public Health Agency of Sweden.
Anywhere: Gambling Therapy, a global service from the charity Gordon Moody, offers free practical advice and emotional support online.

Our responsible gambling page lists more help services by country, and the responsible gambling guides cover limits, warning signs and support for family members. If you are worried about someone else, many of these services support relatives too.

FAQ

Can I cancel a self-exclusion early?

Usually not. Spelpaus states that an exclusion cannot be ended early once it starts, and national schemes generally run for the full period chosen. Spain’s RGIAJ allows a cancellation request only after six months.

Does GAMSTOP block all online casinos?

No. It covers companies licensed in Great Britain. Sites licensed elsewhere are not connected, which is why blocking software and a bank gambling block are recommended alongside it.

What happens to the money in my account?

In Great Britain, operators must close your account and return any funds. Under the MGA’s rules, self-exclusion must not stop you from withdrawing your balance. Ask the operator to confirm when the money has been sent.

Is a time-out the same as self-exclusion?

No. A time-out is a short break, often from a day to a few months, with one operator. Self-exclusion is longer, usually cannot be reversed early and, through a national scheme, can cover every licensed operator in a country.

Can a family member exclude me?

In some countries, yes. In the Netherlands, relatives and others can ask the KSA to register a person in Cruks if other help has not worked, and Germany’s OASIS allows third-party exclusions for 12 months.

Sources

Last updated October 25, 2026 by the Gambling Hero editorial team.