Should it be easier to exclude yourself from all online gambling sites?

Hi ianherts

It's a great question. Glad to be able to tell you the industry is working on a more joined-up scheme. There was a consultation about it earlier this year. The date for submitting views to the consultation is now over but you can still find out more here:

http://www.gamcare.org.uk/news/help-shape-new-online-self-exclusion-scheme

Kind regards

Forum Admin

Thanks for your reply, I had a look at the link you posted and it does look promising.

Any idea of when this might be implemented?

Hi Ianherts and welcome to the forum :))

Maybe until then you could also look at installing blocking software on your devices or speak to you service provider with regards to gambling sites or over 18s restrictions being put in place , you could also ask for a new bank card by reporting yours lost and scratch the 3 digits off without writing them down first of course , then you couldnt use it fore online gaming , I think I heard earlier on here about Barclay's now do a card that can't be used for online transactions also , it has everything else just not that . Hope this help's :))

Hi Alan thanks for the reply and the tips, I like the idea of getting a replacement card and scratching the end digits off.

It's all online for me now, can't even remember the last time I set foot in a bookies so if I can't make online transactions then it will be a massive weight off my shoulders.

Just reading through the forums over the last couple of days seems to have helped, I've got a very clear head at the moment and although I knew re-lapse is very possible at the moment I am confident

Hi, I am new here too. I totally agree with you. I am merrily spending money, then blocking sites but there are so many it's impossible to do. I've spent so much this week as it's been a bad week. Just want to break the habit. Blocking software won't help me as I am admin on everything so can just get round it. It's a total nightmare. Wish I had never found online gambling ☹️

How do I start a topic on here? I want to get support for my cause. I want to start one of those online protests that get lobbied in parliament if you get enough signatures calling for the government to create legislation but am unsure of how to go about it. Basically in order for you to be able to play fobt's you have to register for an account and be issued an account card which you must put in the machine and sign in to be able to play them. With that card you would have the facility to be able to go online and in one easy action exclude yourself from all fobt's in the UK! None of this 5 bookies max, no passport photos, no faffing about one very simple process. Also to safe guard from desperate gamblers just borrowing a mates card to collect any winnings you would have to provide valid photo ID and if you are trying to get round the exclusion you just get your stakes back and forfeit any winnings making it pointless in playing them. These grotesque things are ruining people's lives including mine, there is no place for them in a civilised society it's about time they do something about it!!!!! They could very easily implement this they already have loyalty cards and it could also be extended to arcades and pubs. If they are resistant to it happening well then that just proves they are not committed to responsible gambling as they proclaim to be, and are happy to profit at the expense of millions of people's misery.

I lost £200 in 10 mins yesterday all my holiday money I'm totally gutted about it but it's empowered me to start taking some action and fight these s**m bags.

It is possible to completely lock yourself off from online play, I've done it!! It does take quite a while but if you go on the UK gambling commission website and search for all UK licenced casinos then pick them off one by one opting for the max exclusion time pref permanent. In my experience all the new online casinos that open are affiliated with something you would of already excluded from like everymatrix, progress play cassava enterprises, and should automatically block you from opening an account. Also at any time when you feel strong have a quick search for new ones try and open an account if they let you just go straight to responsible gaming and block it instantly. It's a continual battle but you will get there if you have the will.

I spent hours looking for a site that would accept my bet yesterday on payday, failed and eventually gave up only to fall at the last hurdle on my way home from town and went in to robbinghamhills and lost the lot again in record speed!!

Hello Moff26

This forum focuses on recovery not political lobbying. You might find this information (from our forum rules and etiquette) helpful.

"Please note: The GamCare Forum and Chatroom services are not spaces for organising political action or recruiting other service users for the purposes of doing so. Should you wish to petition the Government about a political matter concerning problem gambling, please visit http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/ or write to your MP and do not use GamCare’s online services to recruit other petitioners."

Here's a link to the full rules and etiquette.

http://www.gamcare.org.uk/support-and-counselling/frontline-services/chatroom/chatroom-and-forum-etiquette#.VGOJC19FC71

Best wishes

Forum Admin

We can't just blame the gambling industry - although I have in the past. We have to take personal responsibility for our actions and think what drives/drove our addiction.

wonder what it would look like if the gambling industy had to take some responsibilty. lets keep it all on the gambler. so much easier that way.

You can blame the industry. You can blame who you like the industry do like to put the blame elsewhere look anywhere but at them. Letting people throw 50 grand away in a couple of hours without it flagging up not really checking if the person is betting above their means? The industry is as much to blame as the person who chooses to bet . Their just cooperation drug dealers saying have as much as you can . Unfortunately it's the world we live in where the addict has to take full blame because no one likes to upset the big bad industry.

They throw lines out like play responsibly yet give you the option to spin £500 A time

Tempt you in with a gazillion percent sign up bonus yet you have to play it through that many times you've emptied you credit card trying to win back the 20 pound you signed up with . Yet still know one has raised an eyebrow. Strangely they recognise a previously excluded when he/she hits a big win then they come running in with terms and conditions that tight the eu want them to negotiate Britains exit so they can squeeze them for all their worth. Yes sir we can self exclude you as we can see you have a problem . But don't worry we'll sell your details to our competitors as we know you'll be gambling again as soon as you get paid . But their a business like any other they all cry. Correct but can you eat a grands worth of Big Macs and go back the next day and repeat it all again? Would you get yourself a trillion in debt drinking bottles of hooch in the boozer before anyone batted an eye lid ? Would the boozer then sell your details to another chain of pubs because you didn't want to drink in there anymore?

Even if you go in the bookies for a couple quid on the footy a greasey haired goon who has his own gambling problems is forced to push as much product on you as he has in his hair, it's free though it's free there in lies the trigger to the mind even though it's free the addiction sees it as a good old fashion chase down and again empties his wallet in to a pointless game that has all but no skill other than pushing the button.

But it's not their fault they all still cry it's the addicts responsibility .

Addiction is like your neighbors cat feed it once and it will return every time even when it knows it's getting fat because impulse becomes intwined with greed even in the face of impending danger .

But the industry do their bit offering sites like this and the responsible gaming trust to the extent of 8 million a year ? What's that 8 pound per addict? Some leading industry cooperations pay as little as a penny towards it . But gamcare can't tell you that actually they can't tell you anything other than what you can and can't say which makes the forum pretty irrelevant soon you'll be looking at what resembles a Second World War morse code . How are you supposed to come terms with the situation you've found yourself in if you can't discuss half the things you want to ?

My opinion is that regardless of what we think about the gambling industry and all the temptations we still have to take personal responsibility.