Self excluding online: easy to do, or more difficult than it should be?

It's all so very wronge, recently I joined 2 sites, unaware both was sister branches of sites I've previously self excluded and neither flagged up on the fact that I was self excluded, I made numerous deposits to these sites and guess what, neither flagged up that I was self excluded, I made withdrawal requests on both sites, guess what!! They both become aware of the fact I was self excluded from there sites and was unable to process my withdrawals!!

Oh yeah, that's a bad one that they do. I've had that in past years. I can't believe they still have that loop hole! Surely if they claim to be unable to process your withdrawal and close your account at that stage, they should be obliged to refund any deposits. Either that or give you your withdrawal before banning you.

Parts of this industry are really messed up, huh?

Look they are blood sucking you know whats. They only see us as revenue and pander to us with "when the fun stops" which was a long time ago.

I am aware of the same issues if you put "I am a problem gambler" in there it should afford you protection in the future. They have a duty to protect you from yourself as set by gambling commission.

Hi, Pinky,

I got my husband to self exclude by letter (snail mail) to the postal address that is to be found in the "contact us" section of the websites. Betonanythingyoulike dot com do have a physical address for their helpful furniture but it took me 15 minutes to find it. (And the problem with the support that they offer to CGs is that it's also on the website and how are you supposed to get past the slots/ cards / sports / spread betting etc to find it? Better to get support elsewhere).

The letters quoted his name, postal and email addresses, date of birth, account number, card number and passwords, they requested closure of his accounts and permanent self exclusion and other than to confirm, no more contact by any media. Once posted, they can't be retracted and the pennies that were due back were credited to his card, he didn't have to go onto the site for this.

Hope this helps,

CW

Pinky333 wrote:

I too have excluded myself from hundreds of sites that i have joined over the past couple of years... i find it just too easy to join the never ending new slot sites that keep popping up on google, i agree they should have some kind of blacklist for your name and address and date of birth then it would be impossible... to be honest aswell as checking in on here everyday what really helps me is the fact that as iv self excluded myself from sooo many sites that if i did join yet another one that it would probably be connected to one that iv excluded myself from and if i did win anything that they would see it and i wouldnt get a penny anyway, its not worth the risk! so im glad iv done it really...

This weekend I've contacted via email every online gaming site I could find to ask them to check if I have any accounts and that I'm permanently excluded, and update them with my newer address to prevent new accounts being opened.

Some were very helpful and emailed me back within an hour confirming account closures.

Others decided it couldn't be so straight forward, asking me to fill out and sign exclusion forms etc, or asking me for further account information. One in particular I seem to be emailing back and forth who insist before they can proceed I need to give them the last four digits of my payment card or a security code. Baring in mind this account was likely opened anything between 18 months and ten years ago I don't recall any of this information! I actually think the account will already be closed anyway!

I've emailed them back again basically pleading them to just exclude me, with a choice of possible security codes I'd likely have chosen :-/

Some sites told me permanent exclusion wasn't possible, and that I'd remain excluded for whatever their maximum policy was, most cases I think it was about 5 years.

I've been a compulsive gambler gambling online for so many years now I've probably signed myself up to hundreds of sites over the years. Then closed accounts. Then occasionally reopened them. I can't possibly keep track of all my previous accounts and details. I won't remember which sites allow permanent exclusion or which will have me excluded for 1,2 or 5 years! I wish there could be some kind of black list you could put yourself on which prevented you being able to sign up with any gaming site ever in the future. Something to make this more simple!

I did have one lovely email telling me very kindly how they were sorry I was experiencing problems, and that all accounts would be closed and future access permanently blocked, and that they understood what a difficult time facing such problems were, and they were pleased I'd brought it to their attention, followed by lots of contacts for support such as gamcare. Someone has obviously taken time and caringly put together this email and policy. Well done them. I read that email feeling proud rather than ashamed for self excluding. I appreciated how simple and easy they had made the process.

Anyway, I wondered what others experiences and views on this were?

Have you found it simple to self exclude? Could/should gaming sites do more to make this process easier?

Glad you did it justwant. And so will you be!

I almost had a lapse a while back. The reason I didn't was because I'd tried to reopen an account, they had said that's fine, but there's a 24hr cooling off period.

So some sites do do something right! Half an hour after calling them I'd had time to reconsider and emailed for permanent self exclusion. I don't think I got the excluding bit right when I first jumped on the wagon. Some accounts were simply closed with the option to reopen in the future rather than having me permanently excluded. So I'm glad I've done the permanent exclusions now - although that doesn't mean there won't be new sites in the future which could tempt me! I need to remain viligant!!!

We all do x

GT wrote:

This is a very interesting and constructive thread and many thanks to Pinky333 for starting it.

I won't delve into the obvious lack of morals, values and compassions that gambling companies offer their valued customers but reading all of the posts above has only led to even stronger barriers in my quest to stay well, well away from the horrible world of gambling.

A business is a business. I understand this.

Businesses exists to make money and profits. I understand this.

Businesses offer products and services. I understand this.

But what I simply cannot understand to this day is the sheer greed and total lack of morals, values and compassion that gambling companies possess. By now, we all realise that problem gambling in the UK is on an uncontrollable scale and it has led to debt, misery, family breakdowns and even suuicides.

It is time that a secure way of being able to self-exclude from every gambling company, both online and in shops, was introduced. I am not talking about wooden promises like the one recently introduced by ABB, I am talking about one which provides a secure service to the people who really need it - the addicts.

Without letting this get to me (from previous experiences), I find this simply...

...disgusting.

But thanks again to Pinky333 for bringing a very important issue up.

GT

Completely agree GT, I couldn't have said it better myself, but the only way this could happen is if every single gambler out there came together and did a protest on it, which I very doubt would happen 🙁

It might not do much, but what about petition to government from change.org which can be done online?

I could set one up, but I'm sure there'll be someone on here much better at wording such a document than me....?

Im like many here signed up to so many sites and self excluded myself online slots is my vice or should say was!
The thing I found wrong was limits are not put in place first up so you can blow a fortune you havent got on a credit card with no check of your credit worthness you can self exclude and then use the same card on other sites many related. I think as well as self excluding you should be able to say to your bank/credit card company dont let me spend on gambling sites. Ive ran up large debts on credit cards gambing and if I could have said only my shopping from Tesco is a valid expenditure or amazon etc it would have taken temptation away a bit