Do you recognize that you need to take a break from casino gaming, sports betting, daily fantasy sports (DFS) or other online gambling platform? Whether or not you plan to enter counseling for problem gambling, your journey to wellness begins by using a gambling operator’s self-exclusion program.
Self-exclusion is a term used to describe when a gambler chooses to ban themselves from a specific gambling venue (land-based or online) because they feel they have developed an inability to abstain despite negative consequences.
Each regulated online gambling site has a self-exclusion feature. The problem, is that self exclusion online gambling tools are rarely visible and require a proverbial magnifying glass to quickly access them. This adds a layer of complexity to your effort to take a break. The longer you spend poking around a casino, sports betting, or DFS (et cetera) website or app, the more likely you will be triggered to gamble. To help ensure this does not happen, we have provided a quick yet comprehensive guide to unlocking self exclusion tools on the online gambling platform/s you’re using.
Definitive Guide to Finding the Tools for Self Exclusion on All Online Gambling Sites and Apps
Self Exclusion Word Search
Again, self exclusion tools are rarely evident on a gambling website or app, which means that you will need to do some digging. The link to access the self-exclusion feature is typically located at the bottom of the web or app page, and is hyperlinked within text. Look for any of the following words:
- Self exclusion
- Responsible Gaming
- Responsible Gambling
- Responsible Play
- Get Help
- Play Well
In many cases, the words will not be evident at all. And the more you look, the more you will be trigged to abandon your worthy mission and return to gambling on the same platform that you’re trying to leave. To find the self-exclusion program as quickly as possible, use the “Find” features on our device. This is typically done by pressing Ctrl+F (Windows) or Command+F (Mac) on the keyboard of your desktop computer or laptop. If using an iPhone, open the webpage, tap the share icon (box with an arrow) and then select “Find on Page”. If using an Android device, open the webpage in Chrome, tap the three-dot menu (More), and select “Find in Page”. In all cases, this action will open a search box, usually at the top or bottom of the page, where you can type in the desired word or phrase (those we listed above). The browser will then highlight the instances of that word on the page so that you can click-through immediately and not be exposed to a promotional message and other prompts to keep you gambling. Here is an example of what the “Find” feature looks like on an iPhone when on the page of a popular sports betting / DFS site.
Self Exclusion Logo Search
Unfortunately, there may be no words regarding self exclusion at all. If no text regarding self-exclusion is found the page, look for one of the following logos at the bottom of the webpage or app, as the link to the operator’s self-exclusion resource may be placed within:
Deep Search (using Google) for Self Exclusion
If any of the above doesn’t unveil the text you’re looking for, perform a website search for “self exclusion” using a tool that online search browsers such as Google have enabled. To perform this search, enter the term “self exclusion” followed by this function site:gamblingwebsitename.com. Let’s use sports betting / DFS operator FanDuel as an example., as they have a robust self-exclusion program in place. In this case, you would type self exclusion site:fanduel.com and be delivered the following:
Still Nothing? That’s a Warning Sign
What if after everything, you don’t find a self exclusion program anywhere on the website or app? Then you are likely using an illegal offshore betting platform. These operators have no intention to help you take a break, much less quit. The FBI encourages anyone with information about illegal gambling operations to submit a tip to the FBI online or report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). In understanding that you’re using an online operator that does not care about your mental health, you will be further incentivized to reassess the platforms you’re using and your relationship with gambling in general.
Other Articles You May be Interested In:
- Does Self Exclusion Work for Online Gambling?
- How Can I Ban Myself from Casinos?
- Can You Stop Gambling on Your Own? What Science Says
As a supplement to self exclusion from online gambling, we encourage you to uncover the severity of your struggle to gamble responsibly. If mild, self exclusion may be all that you need to take a healthy break, although counseling can still be beneficial. If moderate to more severe, counseling is absolutely recommended because there may be underlying issues that could be contributing to your compulsion towards casino gaming, sports betting, or DFS. Let’s find out where you stand by booking a FREE noncommittal assessment of your gambling behavior.
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