Did you know that you can choose to self-exclude from online gambling sites? This is an option for people who want to take a long break from online gambling or even stop entirely.
It’s a good option for many people, especially those who have an unhealthy relationship with online gambling. But it can be difficult to understand exactly what’s involved. So we’re here to talk you through the whole process. Then you can decide if it’s the right step for you or for someone you love.
What is self-exclusion?
As we said in the introduction, self-exclusion is a long-term break from online gambling. You can set this up on gambling sites to be anything from six months to five years or, indeed, permanent. This might seem like a dramatic step, but for some people it’s simply nice to get a good solid break from gambling. For others who have or are at risk of developing a problem, it is a key way to stop gambling for good.
What happens when I self-exclude from online gambling?
Depending on the site, you’ll have a few different options when you choose to self-exclude from online gambling. The first thing is the time period you wish to self-exclude for.
Then on some sites, you can choose which products you want to self-exclude from. For example, you could choose to self-exclude from sports betting and casino, but not poker. Or vica versa. However, if you think you have a gambling problem, we would always recommend self-excluding from all forms of gambling.
On certain sites when you self-exclude, it means you’re automatically self-excluded on other related sites. For example, if you self-exclude from a site that is owned by a larger company, they might extend your self-exclusion across all their brands.
As soon as you self-exclude from online gambling, you can no longer gamble. And this cannot be reversed until your self-exclusion period is up. But you will still be able to log in to withdraw any remaining balance you have.
Is it easy to self-exclude?
This is another thing that depends on the site you are self-excluding from. Usually it is relatively easy to self-exclude from online gambling by going to your account settings. However, if you have any trouble finding where to go or what exactly to do, contact customer services.
What else should I do?
When you’re self-excluding, you should take the step of uninstalling all gambling apps and software from your phone and computer. Then go to your social media accounts and unfollow all gambling or gambling related accounts. Most of the time when you self-exclude, you’ll automatically stop getting marketing emails. However, if you don’t, you should unsubscribe from them too.
If you have a gambling problem, or you suspect that you do, self-exclusion is certainly a good step. But it isn’t the only measure you should take. You need to get assistance from experts who can help you stop for good, both online and offline.
UK based people can call Be Gamble Aware on 0808 8020 133 or visit their website for guidance on your next steps. For those outside the UK, there are a lot of other places you can turn to help. Find the details of dozens of international problem gambling organisations.
Tags: responsible gaming
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