How to close a casino account
How to close a casino account: withdraw your balance, then ask the operator's support team to close it, or use the closure or self-exclusion option in your account settings if the app has one. If you're closing it because gambling has become a problem, ask for self-exclusion instead, or register with GAMSTOP to cover every UK-licensed site and app at once.
By the BestApps editorial team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Withdraw your balance before you close; the money is yours, and UK rules stop operators confiscating it for inactivity.
- A plain closure is a customer service request, while self-exclusion is a binding block the operator must enforce.
- GAMSTOP excludes you from all online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, and can't be cancelled early.
- Deleting the app doesn't close the account, so make the request to the operator directly.
- The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free and open 24/7 on 0808 8020 133.
- GAMSTOP periods
- 6 months, 1 year or 5 years
- GAMSTOP early cancellation
- Not possible
- Operators in GAMSTOP
- All GB-licensed online operators since 31 March 2020
- Your balance
- Yours to withdraw
- National Gambling Helpline
- 0808 8020 133, free, 24/7
How to close a casino account: the short answer
Every UK-licensed casino will close your account if you ask. The usual route is to contact the support team by live chat or email and say clearly that you want the account closed. Some apps also put a closure or self-exclusion option in the account or safer-gambling settings.
Before that, decide what you actually want. If you're tidying up an account you no longer use, a simple closure is fine. If you want to stop gambling, or you're worried about how much you've been playing, a closure on its own is the weaker choice. Self-exclusion and GAMSTOP are designed for that, and the operator has legal duties once you use them.
This page is part of our casino app guides. It covers both routes, what happens to your money, and how to stop new accounts being opened.
Closing your casino account, a time-out or self-exclusion?
Operators use these words differently, so it helps to know what each one normally means before you contact support.
| Option | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Account closure | Closes the account at your request; how easily it reopens depends on the operator | Accounts you simply no longer use |
| Time-out | Pauses the account for a short, set period, then it reopens | A short break from gambling |
| Self-exclusion with one operator | Blocks you from that operator for a set period; it must close your accounts and return funds | Stopping gambling with one brand |
| GAMSTOP | Self-exclusion from all online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain | Stopping online gambling everywhere in the UK market |
A time-out suits someone who wants a pause, and our guide to taking a time-out in a casino app shows how. For anything longer, self-exclusion from casino apps explains how the operator-level version works. The glossary entry for self-exclusion defines the term.
How to close a casino account step by step
These steps work at any UK-licensed casino. They keep your money safe and leave you with a record of what you asked for.
- Log in through the app or website and check your balance, separating cash from any bonus funds.
- Withdraw your cash balance to your usual payment method, and wait for any pending withdrawal to complete.
- Download or screenshot your transaction history if you want a record of deposits and withdrawals.
- Look in the account or safer-gambling settings for a closure or self-exclusion option.
- If there isn't one, contact support by live chat or email and ask for the account to be closed, saying whether you want a closure or a self-exclusion.
- Ask support to confirm the closure in writing, and note the date and the name of the person you spoke to.
- Turn off marketing in your preferences, or ask support to remove you from marketing.
- Delete the app from your phone once the account is closed.
Our guide on how to withdraw from a casino app covers step two in more depth.
What happens to your money when you close a casino account
The money in your account is yours. The Gambling Commission's rules say you can withdraw at any time without unreasonable delay, and a business can't confiscate your money because you didn't log in or verify your identity within a time limit.
That's why withdrawing first matters. If you leave a balance in an account you stop using, the Commission's guidance on account inactivity (opens in a new tab) says operators can't confiscate it for inactivity but may charge dormant account fees after giving you a reminder. Taking the money out before you close avoids that altogether.
If a withdrawal is still waiting when you ask to close, it should carry on to completion; UK casinos can't let you cancel one. Our guide to a casino app withdrawal pending explains the review stage.
How to contact UK casino operators to close an account
These are the contact routes the operators themselves publish. Live chat is usually inside the app or website after you log in. Each operator's safer-gambling tools page explains its own options for breaks and self-exclusion.
| Operator | Other routes | Safer-gambling tools | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coral | help@coral.co.uk | Live chat; phone not published | Coral tools page |
| Ladbrokes | support@ladbrokes.com | Live chat; phone, hours not published | Ladbrokes tools page |
| PlayOJO | support@playojo.com | Live chat after login; no phone listed | Self-exclusion, OJO Safeguard, limits |
| Casumo | hey@casumo.com | UK support hours 7:00–23:00 | Casumo tools page |
| 10bet | support@10bet.co.uk | Phone 0808 175 0550, 08:00–23:00 daily; live chat after login | Breaks and self-exclusion in settings |
For each brand's tools, see Coral's safer-gambling tools, Ladbrokes' safer-gambling tools, PlayOJO's safer-gambling tools, Casumo's safer-gambling tools and 10bet's safer-gambling tools.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited. If you hold accounts at both and want both closed, ask support to confirm whether your request covers each brand, or make the request at each.
Closing an account because of gambling: ask for self-exclusion
If gambling is the reason, say so and ask to self-exclude. That changes what the operator has to do. Under the Commission's licence conditions, when you self-exclude an online operator must refuse you service, close your accounts and return your funds, remove you from marketing within two days, and point you towards support.
The Gambling Commission's self-exclusion page (opens in a new tab) explains what businesses must do. A plain closure carries none of those duties, and depending on the operator it may be easy to reopen. Self-exclusion is built to hold even on a day when you might want it lifted.
There's no need to explain or justify yourself to support. A short message saying you want to self-exclude is enough, and they should act on it. If anything feels unclear, the signs of problem gambling page can help you think it through, without judgement.
Close every casino account at once with GAMSTOP
Closing accounts one by one leaves gaps: a new app, an old account you'd forgotten, a sister brand. GAMSTOP closes those gaps. Registering blocks you from all online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain, and every online operator has had to take part since 31 March 2020.
- Go to the GAMSTOP registration page (opens in a new tab).
- Enter your details. Use the same name, address, email and phone number you've given casinos, plus any older ones they might hold.
- Choose 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, or 5 years with auto-renewal.
- Confirm your registration and keep the confirmation.
- Withdraw any balances you can still reach, or contact operators about money left in accounts.
Two points are worth knowing. A GAMSTOP exclusion can't be cancelled early, and after the period ends it stays in place until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it. It covers online gambling only, and draw-based lotteries such as Lotto are not included. Our GAMSTOP guide covers it in more detail.
After closing a casino account: phone, bank and marketing
Closing the account is the main step. A few extras make it stick, especially if you're cutting back on gambling.
- Delete the casino app; our guide on how to delete a casino app covers iPhone and Android.
- Block reinstalls with Screen Time on iPhone or Digital Wellbeing on Android.
- Install a blocker such as Gamban, a paid app that blocks gambling sites and apps across your devices.
- Switch on a gambling block in your banking app; see gambling blocks on banking apps.
- Check that marketing has stopped, and see turning off casino app notifications if anything still comes through.
Banks that offer gambling blocks include Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, Monzo, NatWest, Santander and Starling, according to the Gambling Commission. Some deliberately make the block slow to remove. You can also ask Google to show fewer gambling ads on YouTube through your ad settings, although Google says it can't promise none will appear.
Your records and personal data after closing an account
Closing an account doesn't automatically erase what the operator holds about you. Download your transaction history first if you want it, because you may not be able to log in afterwards.
On Google Play, the data safety sections for the main UK casino apps we cover say data deletion can be requested. That request goes to the operator, so ask support when you close. Operators may need to keep some records, so ask them to tell you what they will delete and what they will keep.
Can a closed casino account be reopened?
It depends on how it was closed. A plain closure is the operator's own process, and some will reopen an account if you ask. Self-exclusion is designed not to be undone during its period, and GAMSTOP can't be cancelled early.
| How it was closed | Can it be reopened? |
|---|---|
| Account closure | Depends on the operator; ask when you close |
| Time-out | Reopens automatically when the period ends |
| Self-exclusion with one operator | Not during the exclusion period |
| GAMSTOP | Not before the period ends; stays in place until you ask for removal |
If you're closing an account to stop gambling and worry about reopening it on a bad day, choose the option you can't reverse. Our answer on whether you can delete your casino app account covers what operators normally allow.
Free support if you're closing an account because of gambling
You don't have to do this alone, and talking to someone often makes the next steps easier. All of these services are free and confidential.
- National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare: 0808 8020 133, 24/7, with live chat and WhatsApp through GamCare's talk-to-us page (opens in a new tab).
- NHS gambling clinics in England accept self-referrals; the NHS gambling addiction page (opens in a new tab) explains how.
- NHS Wales Helpline: 0808 2819 265.
- Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings in England, Wales and Ulster.
Our pages on the National Gambling Helpline and help and support explain what each service offers. If you're closing an account on behalf of someone else or worried about a family member, see affected by someone else's gambling.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
How do I permanently close my casino account?
Ask the operator's support team to close the account permanently, and if gambling is the reason, ask for self-exclusion so the closure is binding. Withdraw your balance first and get written confirmation of the closure. For a block across every UK-licensed site and app, register with GAMSTOP for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Our guide to self-exclusion from casino apps explains how operator-level exclusion works.
Does deleting the casino app close my account?
No, deleting the app only removes it from your phone. The account stays open with its balance, settings and marketing preferences, and you can still log in on the website. To close it, contact the operator or use the closure option in your account settings, then delete the app. Our guide on how to delete a casino app covers removing it from iPhone and Android once the account is closed.
What happens to my balance when I close my account?
Your balance remains your money, so withdraw it before closing or ask the operator to return it. UK rules say you can withdraw without unreasonable delay, and an operator can't confiscate funds because you didn't log in within a time limit. If you self-exclude, the operator must close your accounts and return your funds. See what happens to your balance if you delete the app for related detail.
Is self-exclusion the same as closing an account?
No, self-exclusion is stronger. A closure is a customer request handled under the operator's own process, while self-exclusion triggers licence duties: the operator must refuse service, close your accounts, return your funds, remove you from marketing within two days and point you to support. It also can't be lifted during its period. Our self-exclusion glossary entry and the Gambling Commission's guidance explain the difference.
How do I close all my casino accounts at once?
Register with GAMSTOP, which blocks you from all online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain. You choose 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, or 5 years with auto-renewal, and it can't be cancelled early. Use every name, address, email and phone number casinos might hold so it matches your accounts. Withdraw balances first where you can. Our GAMSTOP guide walks through registration and what it covers.
Can I reopen a casino account after closing it?
Sometimes, but it depends on how the account was closed. Some operators will reopen a plain closure on request, while self-exclusion can't be reversed during its period and GAMSTOP can't be cancelled early. After a GAMSTOP period ends, the block stays until you ask for it to be removed. If you're closing to stop gambling, choose an option that can't be undone. See taking a time-out for a shorter, reversible break.
Will I still get marketing after closing my account?
You shouldn't, but check your preferences before closing and ask support to remove you from all marketing. If you self-exclude, the operator must remove you from marketing within two days. Since 1 May 2025, UK operators must also let you choose which channels and products you hear about. If messages continue, our answer on how to stop casino marketing texts explains what to do next.
Who can I talk to about stopping gambling?
The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free, confidential and open 24/7 on 0808 8020 133, with live chat and WhatsApp too. NHS gambling clinics in England accept self-referrals, NHS Wales runs a helpline on 0808 2819 265, and Gamblers Anonymous holds peer support meetings. Our help and support page lists each service, and signs of problem gambling can help you reflect.
Related pages
Sources
- Self-exclusion (opens in a new tab)
- Account inactivity (opens in a new tab)
- GAMSTOP registration (opens in a new tab)
- Chat to us now - GamCare (opens in a new tab)
- Help for problems with gambling (opens in a new tab)
- I can't withdraw my winnings (opens in a new tab)
- Contact Us | 10bet UK (opens in a new tab)