Rethinking self-exclusion and its role in gambling harm reduction
Guest article provided by IAGR partner, Greo Evidence Insights.
Self-exclusion is a widely recognized gambling harm reduction tool that allows people to voluntarily ban themselves from gambling venues, websites, and/or apps for a set period of time. While it is intended to provide a practical way for at-risk individuals to stop or pause gambling, its implementation varies across jurisdictions and gambling types (e.g. online vs land-based), raising questions about its overall effectiveness.
Gambling environments are typically designed to encourage continuous play, while opting out requires deliberate effort. Self-exclusion is a reactive measure that relies on individuals recognizing their participation in gambling is harmful to them and taking action. However, many people may not view their gambling as problematic, or may face barriers to enrolment such as stigma, lack of awareness, or complex enrolment processes. Implementation inconsistencies may also influence effectiveness. In some jurisdictions, centralized systems cover multiple operators and gambling types. In others, systems are fragmented, requiring users to register separately with each venue or provider.
Gaps in enforcement are another factor influencing effectiveness. People who choose to self-exclude may still access gambling through operators that require no verification, exploit weak ID verification systems, or use cryptocurrency gambling, which often allows anonymous transactions and operates without proper regulatory oversight.
Self-exclusion may be most effective when it is part of a comprehensive gambling harm reduction system that embeds friction throughout an individual’s journey, using tools like deposit limits, time-outs, signposting to available supports and other proactive, data-driven interventions. It should also be integrated with support services and public awareness efforts and be designed to adapt to emerging technologies and gambling behaviours.
Recently published gambling research
Below is a selection of resources that may help inform regulatory approaches to self-exclusion. Please note that resources are selected based on relevance to the topic without formal assessment of quality and inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- Breaching of voluntary self-exclusion in a national Swedish sample
- Perceptions and experiences of self-exclusion programs: A scoping review of qualitative research
- Prevalence of use and awareness of self-exclusion from gambling in the general adult population
- Understanding stakeholders’ perceptions of barriers to voluntary self-exclusion in Germany
- Experts’ opinions on gaps and needs regarding voluntary self-exclusion in seven jurisdictions
- The implementation of facial recognition technology to support self-exclusion programs in South Australia
- The influence of exclusion from casino gambling on wellbeing and mental health among Swiss respondents
Evidence-informed action
Regulators can consider the following examples when developing or adapting self-exclusion programs.
Lagos State, Nigeria
The Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) has launched SafePlay, a regulatory self-exclusion tool to help individuals control gambling and reduce addiction risks. Once enrolled, users are automatically blocked from all licensed platforms and excluded from marketing communications during the exclusion period. The tool is being rolled out across all licensed operators in Lagos, replacing the fragmented, operator-managed systems with a unified, enforceable standard. Integration of SafePlay is now mandatory for operators to maintain their licences, ensuring consistent responsible gambling practices and reducing the need for separate exclusion systems.
- LSLGA introduces safe play for responsible gaming, tackles gambling addiction
- Lagos State Regulator Launching Self-Exclusion Tool
Great Britain
The GAMSTOP national online self-exclusion scheme allows users to ban themselves from all licensed gambling websites and apps in Great Britain with a single request. Launched in 2018 and mandated for all licensed operators since 2020, GAMSTOP recently introduced a smart 5-year autorenewal option that automatically extends the exclusion unless the user opts out, complete with email reminders to ease the burden of remembering. It has seen strong engagement, with rising registrations, particularly among younger users, up 31% year over year in late 2024. Under-25s now make up 24% of new sign-ups.
Sweden
Operated by Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, Spelpaus is a centralized self-exclusion system that covers all licensed gambling platforms in the country, both online and land-based. It ensures that once an individual self-excludes, they are blocked from gambling across the entire regulated system.
Explore this topic further at IAGR2025
Want to explore how these issues are playing out in real time?
Don’t miss the panel ‘Considering the varied implementation of self-exclusion and its place in a wider safety framework’ at IAGR2025 in Toronto, moderated by Pedro Romero, Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships, BetBlocker.
Check out the full program for IAGR2025 here.
