How to self-exclude on a casino app
How to self-exclude on a casino app: open the account menu, go to Safer Gambling, choose Self-Exclusion, pick a period of at least six months and confirm. The casino closes the account to gambling, returns your balance and stops marketing. To block every other UK gambling site and app at the same time, register with GAMSTOP as well.
By the Best Casino Apps UK team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Self-exclusion in an app lasts from six months up to five years and can’t be reversed early.
- It covers that operator, which may include sister brands; GAMSTOP covers every GB-licensed site and app.
- The casino must return your balance and stop sending you marketing.
- At the end of the period the exclusion stays in place until you actively ask to return.
- The National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133, is free and open 24/7.
- Minimum period
- 6 months
- Longest usual period
- 5 years
- Where in the app
- Account > Safer Gambling > Self-Exclusion
- Reversible early?
- No
- Covers all UK sites?
- No; add GAMSTOP for that
- Helpline
- 0808 8020 133, free, 24/7
How to self-exclude on a casino app, step by step
Self-exclusion is built into every UK-licensed casino app. It normally sits beside deposit limits and time-outs in the safer gambling menu. The process is the same on iPhone and Android.
- Log in to the casino app.
- Open the account menu by tapping your name, the person icon or your balance.
- Tap Safer Gambling, Responsible Gambling or Gambling Controls.
- Choose Self-Exclusion. Some apps place it under a heading such as Take a longer break.
- Select a period: six months, one year, two years or five years are common choices.
- Pick a reason if asked. This is optional and doesn’t change the outcome.
- Confirm. The app logs you out and the account is closed to gambling.
If you’d prefer not to open the app, or can’t find the option, contact customer support by live chat, email or phone and ask to self-exclude. They must act on the request. Our self-exclusion glossary entry gives the short definition.
Choosing your self-exclusion period
Under the Gambling Commission’s rules, self-exclusion must last at least six months, and operators commonly offer periods up to five years. There’s no way to shorten it once it’s set, so consider:
- Six months is the minimum and suits people who want a clear, extended break.
- One or two years gives more time for new habits to settle and for any money worries to ease.
- Five years is often chosen by people who want gambling out of their lives for good, and you can extend again later.
- If you can’t decide, a longer period is the safer choice. The decision is yours, and nobody at the casino will question it.
If you only want a few days or weeks away, a time-out is the shorter tool.
What the casino must do when you self-exclude
UK licence conditions set out what happens once you’ve self-excluded. In practice it means:
- The account is closed to gambling as soon as practicable, and you can’t open a new one with the same operator during the period.
- Your balance is returned to you, normally to the payment method you used, along with any withdrawals already in progress.
- Marketing stops. You should be removed from promotional emails, texts and app notifications.
- Reasonable steps are taken to keep you out, such as checking new registrations against excluded customers’ details.
- The exclusion outlasts the period. When it ends, the account isn’t automatically reopened.
If you notice the casino still sending you offers, or you’re able to log in and play, contact it straight away and keep a record. See the section on complaints below.
Does self-exclusion cover the casino’s sister brands?
Many casino companies run several brands under one licence. Coral and Ladbrokes, for example, are both operated by LC International Limited under UKGC account 54743. Operators are expected to prevent a self-excluded customer gambling with any of the facilities they offer, which in practice often means sister brands are covered too. Ask customer support to confirm which brands your exclusion applies to, and note the answer.
Brands under different companies aren’t affected at all. That’s the gap GAMSTOP fills. You can look up who runs a brand with our guide to checking a casino licence.
Adding GAMSTOP to block every UK casino app
GAMSTOP is the national online self-exclusion scheme. Every gambling business licensed for online play in Great Britain must take part, so one registration covers all their sites and apps. It costs nothing and takes a few minutes on a phone.
- Open the GAMSTOP website in your phone’s browser.
- Tap the option to register and enter your name, date of birth, address, email and mobile number.
- Add any previous addresses or email addresses you’ve used for gambling accounts, so they’re matched too.
- Choose six months, one year or five years.
- Confirm. GAMSTOP says registration can take up to 24 hours to take effect across operators.
Our page on GAMSTOP and casino apps explains how it interacts with accounts you already have.
In-app self-exclusion and GAMSTOP side by side
| Self-exclusion in the app | GAMSTOP | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | That operator, sometimes its sister brands | All GB-licensed online gambling |
| Periods | 6 months to 5 years | 6 months, 1 year or 5 years |
| Takes effect | As soon as practicable, often immediately | Up to 24 hours |
| Set up | In the app or through support | On the GAMSTOP website or by phone |
| Ends | Stays until you take positive action to return | Stays until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it |
| Land-based venues | Not covered | Not covered |
Using both is common: the in-app option locks the account you’re worried about straight away, and GAMSTOP closes the door to the rest. For the difference between closing an account and excluding, see account closure vs self-exclusion.
Removing gambling from your phone as well
Self-exclusion stops licensed casinos accepting your play. It doesn’t stop unlicensed sites, which don’t follow UK rules, and it doesn’t stop the urge to search. Extra layers help:
- Delete the casino apps from your phone after your balance has been returned.
- Install blocking software that stops gambling sites and apps on your devices; our gambling blocking apps compared guide covers the options.
- Use Screen Time on iPhone or Digital Wellbeing on Android to limit app installs; see blocking gambling apps on iPhone.
- Turn on your bank’s gambling block, which declines card payments to gambling merchants. See bank gambling blocks.
What happens to your balance and withdrawals
Money in a self-excluded account belongs to you and should be paid out, usually to the payment method you deposited with. If the casino needs documents to complete identity checks first, it may ask for them before paying. Withdrawals already requested carry on, and UK rules have banned reversing a withdrawal to keep playing since October 2021. If a payment hasn’t arrived after the casino’s stated timeframe, ask support for an update; our page on pending withdrawals explains typical delays.
When the self-exclusion period ends
Nothing changes automatically at the end of the period. The exclusion stays in force until you take positive action to gamble with that operator again, usually by contacting customer support. When you do, the casino applies a cooling-off period of at least a day before the account reopens, and the request typically has to be made by phone or in person rather than by a tap in the app. That extra step is designed to make returning a considered decision.
GAMSTOP works in a similar way: your registration stays active after the period until you ask for it to be removed. If you’re thinking about returning, it may help to talk it through with someone first.
If a casino lets you gamble while self-excluded
If you’re able to open an account, deposit or receive gambling marketing while self-excluded, raise a complaint with the casino first, explaining when you self-excluded and what happened. If it isn’t resolved within eight weeks, or you’re unhappy with the final response, you can take it to the casino’s independent alternative dispute resolution provider, which is named in its terms. Our guide on how to complain about a casino app sets out the process.
Support alongside self-exclusion
Self-exclusion is a practical step, and talking to someone can make it stick. You can call the National Gambling Helpline at any hour on 0808 8020 133; calls cost nothing and stay confidential. GamCare offers live chat and counselling, and NHS gambling clinics provide specialist treatment, as well as support for family members. Our gambling support services guide explains each one, and our responsible gambling page brings the tools together.
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 self-exclusion on a casino app last?
At least six months, and usually up to five years. Casinos commonly offer six months, one, two or five years. The period can’t be shortened once confirmed, and when it ends the exclusion stays in place until you actively ask the casino to let you return, which involves a cooling-off period and normally a phone call. If you want a shorter break, a time-out covers 24 hours to about six weeks. See cooling-off periods on casino apps for how the waiting period works.
Can I cancel self-exclusion early?
No. Once you’ve self-excluded, neither the app nor customer support can reverse it before the period ends, however you ask. This is a deliberate safeguard under the Gambling Commission’s rules, so the decision you made when thinking clearly isn’t undone in a difficult moment. If you’ve excluded for longer than you now feel you need, the period still has to run its course. You can, however, extend it or add GAMSTOP at any time. Our GAMSTOP glossary entry explains the national scheme.
Does self-excluding on one app stop me using other casino apps?
Only if they’re run by the same company, and even then you should ask support to confirm which brands are covered. Casinos owned by different operators aren’t affected. To block all online gambling licensed in Great Britain in one step, register with GAMSTOP, which every GB-licensed online operator must check. Adding blocking software and a bank gambling block covers the gaps, including unlicensed sites. Our page on GAMSTOP and casino apps explains how the two fit together.
What happens to my money when I self-exclude?
The casino should return your balance, normally to the payment method you used to deposit. If identity checks aren’t finished, it may ask for documents before paying, but it can’t keep money that’s yours. Withdrawals already requested continue as normal and can’t be reversed under UK rules. If the payment doesn’t arrive, contact support. Our casino app transaction history guide shows where to check payments.
Will I still get casino marketing after self-excluding?
You shouldn’t. Once you’ve self-excluded, the casino must stop sending you gambling marketing by email, text, post or app notification. Messages may take a short time to stop if a campaign was already scheduled, but continued marketing is a breach worth reporting. Unsubscribe from anything that arrives, keep screenshots with dates, and tell the casino. If it carries on, you can complain formally and escalate to the casino’s dispute resolution service. Our how to complain guide explains the steps.
Does deleting a casino app self-exclude me?
No. Deleting the app removes it from your phone, but your account stays open and you could reinstall it or use the website at any time. Self-exclusion is a setting on the account itself, made in the app’s safer gambling menu or through customer support, and it’s what actually stops you gambling with that operator. Deleting the app afterwards is a sensible extra step. See does deleting a casino app close your account for the details.
Is self-exclusion the same as closing my account?
No. Closing an account ends your relationship with the casino, but you could ask to reopen it at any time. Self-exclusion locks the account for a fixed minimum period, stops marketing, blocks new accounts with the same operator and can’t be undone early. If you’re closing an account because of gambling harm, ask for self-exclusion instead, as the casino should treat it differently. Our how to close a casino app account page covers closures that aren’t about gambling harm.
Where can I get help if I’ve self-excluded?
Calls to the National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133, are confidential, cost nothing and are answered day and night. GamCare, which runs it, also offers live chat, counselling and peer support groups. NHS gambling clinics treat people affected by gambling harm, and many accept self-referrals. Self-exclusion often works best alongside support, especially in the first weeks. Family members can also get help from the same services. Our signs a casino app is affecting you guide may help you think about where you are.