Guides › Gambling and Betting › Allowed to Gamble While Self-Excluded
Allowed to Gamble While Self-Excluded
When you self-exclude, the gambling business must close your account, return any money in it and stop marketing to you. It must have procedures to stop you gambling. If it let you gamble anyway, report it to the business and the Gambling Commission, and complain through the business and its ADR provider. The Commission itself cannot refund losses.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Self-Exclusion
What Businesses Must Do
Once a self-exclusion agreement is made, the business must close your account, return any money in it and remove your details from marketing databases. It must put procedures in place to stop you gambling; if a gamble does happen it should take reasonable steps to prevent it in future. You can report it to the business and to the Commission, but the Commission cannot provide refunds for money lost. source
GAMSTOP
All gambling businesses must take part in GAMSTOP and update their self-excluded lists every 24 hours. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 8 weeksBusiness resolves your complaintThen its ADR provider
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Get proof of your self-exclusion (date and scheme).
Step 2 of 5
Gather statements showing deposits and bets after that date.
Step 3 of 5
Complain to the business, asking for your losses to be considered.
Step 4 of 5
Report it to the Gambling Commission.
Step 5 of 5
After 8 weeks, go to the ADR provider. Get free support if you need it.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
The Gambling Business
Complain through its complaints process first.
Its ADR Provider
Free and independent, after 8 weeks.
Gambling Commission
Report the breach. It cannot refund losses.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Ask your bank to block gambling payments as an extra safeguard.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-and-players/page/self-exclusion Checked 13 October 2026
- gamblingcommission.gov.uk/contact-us/guide/our-most-common-enquiries-from-gambling-customers Checked 13 October 2026
- gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-and-players/guide/page/taking-your-complaint-to-an-alternative-dispute-resolution-adr-provider Checked 13 October 2026