Self-exclusion is a measure that allows a person to voluntarily request to be prevented from gambling for a defined period. It is one of the most established responsible-gambling tools and is designed to put distance between a person and gambling when they feel they need it.
When a customer self-excludes, the operator is generally expected to close or suspend the relevant account, decline further play, and stop sending gambling marketing to that person for the duration. Exclusions typically last for a fixed minimum period and may be renewable.
Self-exclusion can operate at different levels. It may apply to a single operator or, where a jurisdiction provides it, through a central scheme that covers many operators at once, so a single request can reach multiple sites or venues.
For example, a person might self-exclude for six months through a national scheme; participating operators would then be expected to prevent that individual from opening accounts or placing bets until the period ends.
A key distinction is between self-exclusion and simply closing an account. Closing an account is usually reversible at will, whereas self-exclusion is intended to be difficult to undo during the chosen period, often requiring a cooling-off step before access can resume.
The available durations, whether schemes are single- or multi-operator, and the exact obligations on operators vary between jurisdictions and regulators. Customers should check how the tool works with each operator and in their own market.