Chances are if you're reading this post, you know exactly what self exclusion is. There are a few things to consider that some may not be aware of. And is self exclusion an effective method of gambling prevention?
As you know, self exclusion is a way of blocking access to a gambling website, with most sites offering exclusion period between 6 months and permanent exclusion. During this period, under no circumstances can the account be reopened.
Self exclusion is a useful but flawed system. I read a lot of other compulsive gamblers write that they have excluded from the sites that they play at, and while that is a great first step to take, ultimately it isn't enough. If you are a compulsive gambler, unless you are excluded from every single online casino, then you are still at risk. However there is a way that this can be done...
Something that some people may not be aware of is how the licensing system works under the UK Gambling Commission. There are literally thousands of online casinos that are open to UK based players, but very few of these are individually owned and tend to belong to a larger operator who actually owns the license that allows them to offer their service. An example of one of these operators is Progress Play Limited, who operate dozens of online casinos available to play in from the UK.
One good thing about self exclusion is that when you exclude from one of an operators brands (casinos), it subsequently blocks you from being able to play at any of that particular operators other brands. So with a few clicks of a button, you can exclude yourself from a large number of casinos and prevent yourself from gambling in a number of places.
The downside to this is that there are over 100 different companies that hold UKGC licenses to provide online gambling in the UK, which means there are a lot of places where a compulsive gambler can get an account and do further damage to themselves.
I have compiled an excel spreadsheet list of all of these license holders and an example of one of their online brands. For someone who is serious about stopping gambling, this gives you the opportunity to self exclude from every one of these operators and completely block your ability to gamble online. I've done it myself, and while it is an incredibly laborious task that took me many hours to get through, it has worked and there is literally not even one online casino that I am now able to gamble at. However I feel somewhat reluctant to post the full list on here as a compulsive gambler may find a new casino they may otherwise not know exists. I would advise anyone who is serious about completely blocking access to online gambling and wants to self exclude from every site in the way I have talked about should do so with the help of a friend or family member who can ensure it is done properly without giving into the temptation to gamble.
I concede this isn't a perfect way to self exclude entirely, but in the absence of the ability to globally self exclude through one form, I believe this to be the only way it can be done. Anyone who would like a copy of the list i have compiled should email me at compulsive.gambling.rambling@gmail.com and i'll happily send it over as soon as possible. A couple of other details about self exclusion are worth considering.
When you exclude from a casino, any attempts to sign up with one of its "sister sites" should be blocked upon registration. However the systems of a few license holders aren't as effective and may still allow you to sign up and possibly even allow you to deposit. If this is the case, YOU WILL NEVER BE PAID ANY WINNINGS! And although it hasn't happened to me, it's entirely possible that your deposits won't be returned. Surely even the most compulsive of gamblers won't knowingly join a site at which they know they have zero chance of winning at.
It's also worth mentioning that signing up to a casino using false details is entirely futile, as in the event you want to withdraw from the site, you will be asked to send in verification documents that you will not be able to provide and will most likely lose your deposits.
This method and list works! But it requires a lot of work and discipline initially. If any of this post doesn't make sense to you or you have any questions about how best to do it, please leave a comment or send me an email and i'll happily answer any questions and provide the full list :)
compulsive.rambling.gambling@gmail.com
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