Gambling self-exclusion lets you put a barrier between yourself and betting, so a hard moment does not turn into a bet. This guide covers the free registers, blocking apps and bank blocks that exist, what each one stops, and what happens when the time you chose runs out. You do not need a diagnosis to use any of them.
It is part of our Responsible gambling and psychology section. Details below were checked on 13 October 2026 and can change, so confirm them on each service’s own page before you rely on them.
What is gambling self-exclusion and how does it work?
Gambling self-exclusion is a formal request that gambling companies stop you from using their services for a period you choose. It is free. Some schemes let one registration reach many companies. GambleAware describes it as asking gambling companies to stop you from gambling with them, and lists it beside blocking software and bank blocks.
Read more: Is Gambling Legal Where You Live?
Think of three different kinds of barrier, because each one acts in a different place:
- Self-exclusion registers act on the company’s records. Once you are registered, licensed companies must not let you open or use an account.
- Blocking software acts on your device. It stops gambling websites and apps from loading on your phone, tablet or computer.
- Bank blocks act on your card. They stop payments to gambling sites and apps, whatever device you use.
Which tools cover which kind of gambling?
No single tool covers every route to a bet, so it helps to see the gaps side by side. The table below shows what each barrier is designed to cover, based on each organization’s own description.
| Barrier | Licensed online accounts | Gambling apps and sites on a device | Card payments | Betting shops, casinos, bingo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAMSTOP (Great Britain) | Yes, those licensed in Great Britain | No | No | No, separate schemes |
| BetStop (Australia) | Yes, licensed online and phone wagering | No | No | No, venue schemes differ |
| BetBlocker | Blocks the sites in its database | Yes, on the devices where it is installed | No | No |
| Gamban | Blocks sites and apps in its lists | Yes, on the devices where it is installed | No | No |
| Bank block | No | No | Yes, where your bank offers it | Only card payments |
| Venue schemes | No | No | No | Yes, for the venues you name |
How does GAMSTOP self-exclusion work in Great Britain?
GAMSTOP is a free service that blocks you from your accounts on gambling websites and apps. GambleAware says registering takes about five minutes, and afterward you cannot open or use accounts with online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain. The NHS says you choose 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
Six months is the shortest period. If you want a shorter break, GAMSTOP says to use a gambling company’s own time-out tool, which can restrict an account for anything from one day to six weeks. See GAMSTOP’s note on excluding for less than six months.
The rules are firm by design. GAMSTOP states that it cannot remove anyone’s exclusion early. See its page on cancelling early. The point is that the barrier still holds on the day when you feel least like keeping it.
For land-based venues, GambleAware lists MOSES for most betting shops, SENSE for casinos and BISES for licensed bingo venues.
How does BetStop work in Australia?
BetStop is the free National Self-Exclusion Register, an Australian Government initiative. One registration excludes you from all licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers. Once you are registered, providers cannot let you place a bet, open a new account or send you marketing messages. Registering takes about five minutes.
The exclusion runs for a minimum of 3 months up to a lifetime, according to Gambling Help Online. The NSW GambleAware page adds that you can extend a break at any time, and that you can nominate a person to support you while you are excluded, as BetStop describes.
A ministerial release dated 29 August 2024 said more than 28,000 people had self-excluded in BetStop’s first year, and nearly 40 percent chose a lifetime exclusion. See the Department of Social Services release.
Gambling Help Online notes that it may not be possible to self-exclude from gambling sites registered outside Australia. Venue exclusion is separate: in Victoria, for example, you sign an agreement for a minimum period, as the state regulator explains.
What does self-exclusion look like in the United States?
In the United States, the program we checked is run by a state regulator, so where you live decides what is on offer. Michigan’s regulator is one example. Length, scope and enrollment may differ elsewhere, so check your own state’s gaming regulator.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board runs a Responsible Gaming Database for online casino and sports betting. You choose 1 year or 5 years, and you can pick different lengths for online gaming and sports betting. You cannot remove your name early, and it is removed automatically when your chosen time expires. Written confirmation can take up to 45 days.
For free help finding local resources anywhere in the US, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), with call, text and chat 24 hours a day. It is confidential and not an emergency line. In a crisis, call 911 or 988.
How does gambling blocking software work, and which options are free?
Blocking software stops gambling websites and apps from loading on your phone, tablet or computer. GambleAware says this can reduce unplanned gambling and create space to think. It acts on your device, so it works whether or not a company takes part in any register.
BetBlocker
BetBlocker is a free tool from a Scottish registered charity. It is ad-free, needs no registration and runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.
A block restriction runs without a break for a length you choose, from 1 day up to 5 years. A calendared restriction switches blocking on and off at set times, for example weekends or after payday. BetBlocker says it covers licensed and unlicensed operators, and it describes itself as complementary to registers such as GAMSTOP, which cover only licensed operators.
Restrictions cannot be lifted early, and support will not bypass one. Because it collects no email address, passwords cannot be reset. Keyword blocking is not used, so gambling information and promotion sites are only partly covered.
Gamban
Gamban is a paid app that blocks gambling websites and apps across tens of thousands of sites. It offers a 7-day free trial, and one licence covers all your devices. Gamban says it is free to Ohio residents through the Time Out Ohio program.
Can a bank block stop gambling payments?
Many banks let you block payments to gambling sites and apps on a debit or credit card. The NHS advises asking your bank to stop money going to gambling websites and apps. GambleAware adds that this does not close your account or affect your credit score, and that some banks apply a cooling-off period before the block can be lifted.
Read more: Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
A bank block covers something the other tools cannot: the money. If you cannot find the option in your banking app, ask the bank directly. Rules differ between banks and countries, so check yours.
What happens when a self-exclusion or block ends?
The end of the period is where the tools differ most. Some end automatically. Others stay in place until you ask for removal. Knowing the rule in advance lets you plan for the day your chosen period finishes.
| Tool | Length you can choose | Early removal | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAMSTOP | 6 months, 1 year or 5 years | Not possible | Stays for a further seven years unless you request removal; GAMSTOP does not notify you |
| BetStop | 3 months up to a lifetime | Not stated on pages read | You can extend; end-of-period steps not stated on pages read |
| BetBlocker | 1 day up to 5 years | Not possible | Up to 1 month ends automatically; 2 months or more continue until you deactivate, then a one-week cooling-off applies, during which you can extend |
| Michigan online database | 1 year or 5 years | Not possible | Removed automatically when the time expires |
GAMSTOP’s page says that if you do not contact it to remove your exclusion, the exclusion stays for a further seven years. To lift it after the minimum period, you start the removal yourself by signing in and choosing Request Removal, then finishing by online chat or phone.
After removal there is a 24-hour waiting period, and companies then need extra time to update their records, as GAMSTOP explains on its page about why you may still be blocked.
What do these tools not cover?
Each tool covers a defined set of companies, devices or payments. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that unlicensed providers regularly offer unregulated gambling products, and that online gambling is available almost anywhere, at any time, in its gambling fact sheet. A register cannot reach a company that is not part of it.
GamCare says self-exclusion may not work on its own, and suggests blocking software as an extra tool. A barrier lowers the chance of a bet in a weak moment. It does not remove the urge behind it, or the worries underneath.
Three practical gaps are worth knowing about:
- New devices. Blocking software only protects devices where it is installed, so add it to each phone, tablet and computer you use.
- Other forms of gambling. An online register does not cover shops, casinos or bingo halls.
- Other places. A register covers companies licensed in one country. If you travel, or live somewhere else, the register for that place applies.
How do you choose which barriers to use?
Start with the gap that matters most to you, then add one layer at a time. GambleAware says even one step is a good start, and that each one you combine adds protection. This order is a sensible default.
- Pick the register for your country. GAMSTOP for Great Britain, BetStop for Australia, or your state’s program in the US. Our guide to gambling help by country lists support elsewhere.
- Choose a length you can live with. GAMSTOP and BetBlocker cannot be undone early, so think it through. You can extend later.
- Install a blocker on every device. BetBlocker is free. Gamban is paid after its 7-day trial.
- Ask your bank about a gambling payment block, and ask how any cooling-off period works.
- Add a venue scheme if you also gamble in shops, casinos or bingo halls.
- Write down the end date. Check what your tool does when the period finishes, and choose in advance whether to extend.
If you are comparing how much you spend, our guide to setting a gambling budget and time limit covers the next layer. If you are thinking about someone else, see how to help someone who gambles.
Where can you get support today?
Free, confidential help exists in many countries, and you do not need to be sure anything is wrong to ask. Your next step can be small: register with the right scheme, or call a helpline and talk it through.
In England, the NHS lists the National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, on 0808 8020 133, free and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In Australia, Gambling Help Online runs a free, confidential helpline on 1800 858 858, 24/7. In the US, use 1-800-MY-RESET as above.
Need help?
Free, confidential help is available. Choose your country to see helplines.
Find a helplineIf you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.