How do I self-exclude from all casino apps?
How do I self-exclude from all casino apps? Register with GAMSTOP, the free national scheme that blocks you from every online gambling company licensed in Great Britain, including their apps, for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Then add a device blocker and a bank block so the apps and payments are harder to reach.
By the BestApps editorial team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- One GAMSTOP registration covers every online gambling business licensed in Great Britain, so you don't need to contact each app.
- Choose 6 months, 1 year or 5 years; the exclusion can't be cancelled early.
- When it ends, the block stays until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it.
- GAMSTOP doesn't delete apps or block unlicensed sites, so add Gamban, phone settings and a bank block.
- Free, confidential support is on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
- Main tool
- GAMSTOP (online self-exclusion)
- Cost
- Free
- Periods
- 6 months, 1 year or 5 years
- Early cancellation
- Not possible
- Operators taking part
- All GB-licensed online operators (since 31 March 2020)
- Helpline
- 0808 8020 133 (24/7)
Self-exclude from all casino apps in one step
The quickest way to self-exclude from all casino apps in the UK is a single registration with GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab). It's free, it's run by The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited, and every online gambling business licensed in Great Britain has to take part. Because a casino app is just a front door to an operator account, blocking the account blocks the app.
You don't need to open each app, find its settings and exclude one by one. That route still exists, and it's covered below, but it only reaches the brand you're using that day. For a block across every licensed app, the national scheme does the work in one go. Our wider guide to self-exclusion from casino apps explains the background, and the questions hub has related answers on limits and breaks.
If you're thinking about self-exclusion because gambling feels out of control, that's a sound decision. You can talk it through first with the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, which is free and open 24/7.
How to register with GAMSTOP on your phone
Registration happens on GAMSTOP's website rather than inside any casino app, so you can do it from your phone's browser in a few minutes. Have your personal details to hand, because the scheme needs them to identify your accounts at licensed operators.
- Open your phone's browser and go to GAMSTOP's official website.
- Choose the option to register and enter your personal details accurately.
- Pick your exclusion period: 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. GAMSTOP also offers 5 years with auto-renewal.
- Confirm your registration and keep any confirmation email for your records.
- Delete gambling apps from your phone, then add a device blocker and a bank block (steps below).
- Turn off any remaining marketing: unsubscribe from emails and texts that still arrive in the meantime.
GAMSTOP's registration page (opens in a new tab) lists the periods on offer. GAMSTOP doesn't charge for any of them.
What happens to your casino app accounts after you self-exclude
The Commission's social responsibility code sets out what an operator must do once you're excluded. Under LCCP 3.5.3 (opens in a new tab), businesses must refuse you service, close your account, return any money in it, take you off their marketing within two days and point you towards support.
| Duty | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Refuse service | You can't gamble through the operator's app or website during the exclusion |
| Close the account | The account is shut rather than simply paused |
| Return funds | Money left in the account is returned to you |
| Stop marketing | You must be removed from marketing within two days |
| Signpost support | The operator should point you to help services |
In practice, a casino app may still sit on your home screen after registration. Opening it doesn't give access to gambling with that operator, but the icon itself can be a trigger, which is why deleting the apps is part of the steps. Our guide on how to delete a casino app covers iPhone and Android, and what happens to your balance if you delete the app explains why removing the app doesn't touch your money.
GAMSTOP vs self-excluding inside each casino app
Most UK casino apps also offer their own self-exclusion. PlayOJO's help pages list self-exclusion alongside deposit, time and loss limits, and 10bet's app listing mentions deposit limits, breaks and self-exclusion in account settings. That's useful if you only want to stop with one brand, but it isn't a way to exclude from all apps.
| Point | GAMSTOP | Self-exclusion in one app |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | All online operators licensed in Great Britain | That operator only; check its terms for any linked brands |
| Where you set it | GAMSTOP's website | The app's account or safer gambling settings |
| Periods | 6 months, 1 year or 5 years | Set by the operator; check its help pages |
| Ending early | Not possible | Check the operator's rules |
| Cost | Free | Free |
You can do both. Excluding inside the app you use most, then registering with GAMSTOP, means the account in front of you closes straight away while the national block reaches everything else. The safer gambling pages for PlayOJO's app tools and 10bet's app tools explain what each brand publishes.
Why one registration covers every UK casino app
Taking part isn't optional for licensed firms. The Commission made participation mandatory for all online operators from 31 March 2020, and LCCP 3.5.5 (opens in a new tab) says licensees must participate in the national multi-operator self-exclusion scheme.
The rule has teeth. In November 2022 the Commission suspended LEBOM Limited for failing to take part. If you want to check that an app is licensed, and therefore inside the scheme, our guide to how casino apps are licensed in the UK shows how to use the public register.
How long self-exclusion from casino apps lasts
You choose the length when you register, and it can't be shortened once it starts. The Gambling Commission's self-exclusion guide (opens in a new tab) and GAMSTOP's own explanation (opens in a new tab) both set out how the periods work.
| Period | Can you cancel early? | When it expires |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | No | Block stays until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it |
| 1 year | No | Block stays until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it |
| 5 years | No | Block stays until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it |
| 5 years with auto-renewal | No | Renews automatically |
That last point matters. Nothing switches back on by itself when the minimum period passes, so there's no date to watch for and no moment when apps suddenly open again without you taking action.
What self-excluding from casino apps doesn't block
GAMSTOP is strong but it has edges. Knowing them lets you fill the gaps rather than be caught out.
- Unlicensed sites and apps. Offshore casinos that aren't licensed in Great Britain aren't part of the scheme, and they offer none of the UK's protections. Our guide to spotting an unlicensed casino app explains the warning signs.
- Land-based gambling. GAMSTOP covers online gambling only; betting shops and casinos have separate schemes.
- Some lottery products. Instant win games are blocked, but draw-based games such as Lotto aren't covered.
- The apps themselves. Icons stay on your phone until you delete them.
- Northern Ireland. The Gambling Act 2005 and the Commission's rules cover Great Britain.
Add blocks to your phone and bank account
Self-exclusion works best as one layer among several. A blocker on the phone, a block on your bank card and fewer gambling ads all make it harder to act on an urge in the moment.
- Install a gambling blocker. Gamban blocks gambling sites and apps on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, and recommends being used alongside GAMSTOP. See what Gamban is.
- Use your phone's own settings. iPhone Screen Time can restrict app installs and age ratings; Android's Digital Wellbeing can limit app time. See how to block gambling apps on your phone.
- Switch on a bank gambling block. Many UK banks let you block gambling payments on your card. See whether your bank can block casino app payments.
- Cut down gambling ads. The Commission explains how to ask Google to show fewer gambling ads on YouTube, though Google says it can't promise none will appear.
Our safer gambling hub brings these tools together, with separate guides to bank gambling blocks and Gamban.
Support alongside self-exclusion
Blocking access deals with the apps; talking to someone helps with what's behind the urge to use them. GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline (opens in a new tab) on 0808 8020 133, free and open 24/7, with live chat and WhatsApp as well.
- In Wales, the NHS Wales Helpline is on 0808 2819 265.
- In England, you can refer yourself to an NHS gambling clinic, including the National Problem Gambling Clinic. See NHS gambling clinics.
- Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings in England, Wales and Ulster.
- If someone else's gambling is the worry, see support for people affected by someone else's gambling.
A short checklist before you self-exclude
None of these steps is required, but they make the first weeks smoother.
- Note any balances you hold so you can confirm they come back to you.
- Download statements you might need later from your transaction history.
- Tell someone you trust, so they can help if the urge returns.
- Decide which extra blocks you'll set up the same day.
If you aren't ready for a long exclusion, a shorter break may help as a first step: see how to take a break from a casino app. If you want a full stop, though, GAMSTOP is the tool built for it.
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
Can I self-exclude from all casino apps at once?
Yes, by registering with GAMSTOP. Every online gambling business licensed in Great Britain must take part in the scheme, so one registration blocks you from all of their apps and websites together. You don't have to contact each brand. Apps from unlicensed offshore operators aren't covered, which is one reason to add a device blocker too. Our GAMSTOP guide explains the scheme in more detail.
Is GAMSTOP free to use?
Yes, GAMSTOP is free. It's the national online self-exclusion scheme, run by The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited, and there's no charge for any of the exclusion periods. Some tools you might add alongside it, such as Gamban, are paid products, so check their own sites for current prices. The GAMSTOP glossary entry gives a quick definition.
Can I cancel self-exclusion early?
No, a GAMSTOP exclusion can't be cancelled before the period you chose has ended. That's deliberate: the point is to put a barrier in place that holds when an urge is strongest. Even after the minimum period passes, the block stays until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it. Choose a length you're comfortable with, and read our guide to self-exclusion if you'd like more background.
What happens to money left in my casino app account?
It should be returned to you. The Commission's rules say operators must close a self-excluded customer's account and return any funds in it. Deleting the app from your phone doesn't affect your balance, because the money sits in your account, not on the device. See what happens to your balance if you delete the app for more.
Will I still get casino emails and texts after self-excluding?
You shouldn't for long. Operators must remove self-excluded customers from marketing within two days, under the Commission's social responsibility code. If messages continue after that, contact the operator and mention your exclusion. You can also turn off app notifications on your phone straight away: see how to stop casino marketing texts.
Does self-exclusion delete casino apps from my phone?
No, it blocks your accounts, not the software. The app icons stay on your phone until you remove them, and seeing them can be unhelpful. Delete each one, then consider a blocker or your phone's settings to stop them being reinstalled. Our guides to deleting a casino app and blocking gambling apps on iPhone walk through it.
Does GAMSTOP cover betting shops and the National Lottery?
Not fully. GAMSTOP covers online gambling only, so betting shops and land-based casinos have their own separate schemes. For lotteries, instant win games are blocked but draw-based games such as Lotto aren't covered. If those matter to you, ask the venue about its self-exclusion and add a bank block. Our help and support page lists other services.
Should I self-exclude inside the app as well as on GAMSTOP?
You can, and some people find it helpful. Self-excluding inside the app you use most closes that account straight away, while GAMSTOP reaches every other licensed operator. Exclusion within one app on its own only covers that brand. See safer gambling tools in casino apps for what operators typically offer, and taking a time-out if you want a shorter break.
Who can I talk to about stopping gambling?
The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free on 0808 8020 133 and open 24 hours a day, with live chat and WhatsApp too. In Wales, the NHS Wales Helpline is on 0808 2819 265, and in England you can refer yourself to an NHS gambling clinic. Our National Gambling Helpline page explains what to expect when you call.
Related pages
Sources
- Control your gambling | Gamstop Online (opens in a new tab)
- About | Gamstop Online (opens in a new tab)
- GAMSTOP registration (opens in a new tab)
- Self-exclusion (opens in a new tab)
- 3.5.5 Remote multi-operator SR code (opens in a new tab)
- 3.5.3 Self-exclusion – remote SR code (opens in a new tab)
- Chat to us now - GamCare (opens in a new tab)