Complete Guide to Self-Exclusion from Gambling

Self-exclusion is one of the most concrete steps you can take in your recovery journey. Unlike downloading an app or reading an article, it's a formal, documented commitment. You go on the record, and the gambling industry is required to respond.

But self-exclusion is also widely misunderstood. People expect it to do more than it does. They sign up, assume everything is handled, and then feel blindsided when a promotional email arrives three weeks later or when they discover that an offshore platform never got the memo.

This guide explains how self-exclusion works in the US, what it genuinely protects you from, where the gaps are, and how to fill them.

What Self-Exclusion Is

Self-exclusion is a voluntary agreement between you and a gambling operator (or a group of operators) that prevents you from gambling with them for a specified period. When you self-exclude, operators are legally required to:

• Close your existing accounts
• Refuse any new account creation attempts
• Remove you from their marketing and promotional lists
• Deny you entry to their physical venues (for casino self-exclusion)

The idea is straightforward: you're asking the industry to help you stay away by creating barriers you can't easily undo in a moment of temptation. And because the obligation falls on the operator—not just on you—it shifts some of the burden to the institutions that profit from gambling.

Self-exclusion programs are free. There's no cost to register, no subscription, no hidden fees.

Types of Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion in the US isn't a single, unified system. It's a patchwork of programs that vary by state, by operator, and by gambling type.

State-Run Programs

Most US states that allow legal gambling operate their own self-exclusion registries. These are typically administered by the state's gaming commission or control board. When you register with a state program, all licensed operators in that state are notified and required to comply.

The specifics vary significantly:

• Duration. Some states offer choices—one year, five years, or lifetime. Others have fixed periods. A few states make lifetime exclusion the only option, which carries weight: in some jurisdictions, lifetime means lifetime, with no process for reinstatement.
• Registration process. Some states allow online registration. Others require an in-person visit to a gaming commission office, a casino, or a designated location. A few require notarized documents.
• Scope. State programs cover operators licensed within that state. If you gamble across state lines—online or in person—you may need to register in multiple states separately.

Operator-Level Exclusion

Individual gambling companies also offer their own self-exclusion options, independent of state programs. Most major online platforms—DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, and others—have responsible gambling pages where you can request self-exclusion from that specific platform.

Operator-level exclusion is useful because:

• You can do it online, usually through your account settings or by contacting customer support
• It covers your account across all states where that operator is licensed
• It can be faster than going through a state program

The limitation is that it only covers one operator at a time. Self-excluding from DraftKings doesn't affect your FanDuel account, even if you want it to. You'd need to go through each platform separately.

Multi-State Compacts and Interstate Agreements

Some states participate in agreements that honor each other's self-exclusion lists. This means registering in one participating state may also block you from gambling in partner states. However, these compacts are still evolving and don't cover all states or all operators.

The concept is promising—eventually, a single self-exclusion registration might cover multiple jurisdictions—but in practice, coverage remains inconsistent. Don't assume that self-excluding in one state automatically protects you in another.

How to Self-Exclude from Major Platforms

If you want to self-exclude from specific online gambling platforms, here's a general overview of the process. Each platform has its own responsible gambling section, usually accessible through account settings or their website footer.

DraftKings. Visit the Responsible Gaming section in your account settings or their website. You can request exclusion for a set period or indefinitely. DraftKings also participates in state self-exclusion programs and will honor state-level exclusions.

FanDuel. FanDuel offers self-exclusion through their Responsible Gaming tools. You can set exclusion periods ranging from short-term to permanent. Like DraftKings, they participate in state programs.

BetMGM. Self-exclusion is available through the Responsible Gaming section of the BetMGM website or app. They offer multiple duration options and honor state-level exclusions.

Caesars Sportsbook. Caesars provides self-exclusion options through their responsible gambling page. Given that Caesars Entertainment also operates physical casinos, their exclusion can cover both online and in-person gambling depending on how you register.

For detailed, step-by-step account deletion and self-exclusion instructions for each of these platforms (and 500+ others), GuardingGamblers maintains a comprehensive platform directory with specific instructions, email templates, and difficulty ratings.

In-person casinos. For physical casinos, self-exclusion typically requires visiting the casino's responsible gambling office or the state gaming commission. Some tribal casinos operate under their own exclusion programs, separate from state registries. If you gamble at tribal casinos, you may need to contact them directly.

What Self-Exclusion Does

When it works as intended, self-exclusion provides meaningful structural protection:

Account closure. Your existing accounts with covered operators are closed. You can't log in, can't place bets, and can't access your account history. For many people, this removes the path of least resistance—the saved login, the one-tap bet, the muscle memory of placing a wager.

New account prevention. Operators are required to screen new account applications against their self-exclusion lists. If you try to create a new account during your exclusion period, the application should be rejected. This isn't foolproof—identity verification systems aren't perfect—but it creates a meaningful hurdle.

Marketing removal. Operators are supposed to remove self-excluded individuals from their marketing lists. This means you should stop receiving promotional emails, text messages, and direct mail from covered operators. The keyword is "should"—more on the gap between intention and reality in a moment.

Venue access restrictions. For physical casino exclusion, your name and photo may be added to a list that security personnel use to identify and turn away excluded individuals. If you enter a casino during your exclusion period and are identified, you may be asked to leave and could face trespassing charges in some states.

What Self-Exclusion Doesn't Do

This is the section that matters most, because the gaps between what people expect self-exclusion to do and what it actually does are where vulnerability lives.

It Doesn't Stop Emails Immediately

When you self-exclude, operators are required to remove you from their marketing lists. But email marketing doesn't work like a light switch. Campaigns are often scheduled weeks in advance. Automated drip sequences may already be queued with your email address. Third-party affiliate marketers who have your data may not receive the exclusion notification at all.

The result: you self-exclude on Monday, and on Wednesday, a "We miss you! Here's $50 in free bets" email lands in your inbox. You did everything right. The system just has pipeline delays that nobody warned you about.

For some people, those continued emails create real doubt. "Did the exclusion even work? Are they ignoring my request?" Usually, the answer is that it's a timing issue—the emails were already in the pipeline. But in the weeks between self-excluding and the emails actually stopping, every promotional message feels like a betrayal of the system you trusted.

It Doesn't Cover Offshore or Unlicensed Operators

Self-exclusion registries only have authority over operators licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. Offshore gambling sites—operating from jurisdictions with minimal regulation—are not bound by any US self-exclusion program. If you've used offshore platforms, self-exclusion won't stop them from contacting you.

This gap is significant. Offshore operators tend to be more aggressive with marketing, less responsive to unsubscribe requests, and more willing to target people who have shown interest in gambling. They're also the platforms most likely to ignore responsible gambling obligations entirely.

It Doesn't Block Affiliate Marketers

Gambling companies work extensively with affiliate marketers—independent businesses that earn commissions by driving sign-ups. When you created gambling accounts, your email may have been shared with or sold to marketing partners. These affiliates build their own email lists and send their own promotions.

Self-exclusion with an operator doesn't automatically propagate to every affiliate who has your data. The operator removes you from their list, but the affiliate's list is a separate database. You may continue receiving gambling promotions from senders you don't recognize, promoting platforms you've never heard of—all because your email entered the affiliate ecosystem years ago.

It Doesn't Block Social Media Content

Self-exclusion has no effect on the gambling content you see on social media. Betting tipsters on Twitter, odds embedded in sports highlight reels, targeted ads based on your browsing history, friends sharing their parlays—none of this is covered by self-exclusion programs. Social media platforms have their own ad targeting systems, and your self-exclusion status isn't something they know about or respond to.

It Doesn't Cover Every Gambling Type

Some state self-exclusion programs are specific to certain gambling types—casino gambling, sports betting, lottery, or poker. A state program might cover casinos but not the state lottery, or cover online sports betting but not daily fantasy sports (which some states classify differently). Check what your state's program actually covers, and don't assume it's comprehensive.

Closing the Gaps

Self-exclusion is a strong foundation, but it works best as one layer in a broader strategy. Here's how to address the gaps it leaves open.

Email Cleanup

Since self-exclusion doesn't immediately stop gambling emails—and doesn't touch affiliate marketing at all—cleaning your inbox separately is essential. Tools like WagerWard scan for gambling emails across operators and affiliates, catching messages that self-exclusion was supposed to prevent but didn't. Gmail filters can also help, though they require you to manually identify each sender. (For more on why unsubscribing alone doesn't work, we have a detailed breakdown.)

The goal is to make your inbox a space that supports your recovery rather than undermining it. Even one promotional email per week is one too many if it arrives at the wrong moment.

Website and App Blockers

Self-exclusion prevents you from logging in and placing bets, but it doesn't prevent you from visiting gambling websites. You can still browse odds, check lines, and engage with content—all without placing a bet, but all feeding the same neural pathways. Website blockers like Gamban and BetBlocker add a layer that self-exclusion lacks: they stop you from even loading the page.

Bank Gambling Blocks

If self-exclusion systems fail—if an operator doesn't properly screen your new account application, or if you find an offshore platform that isn't covered—a bank gambling block provides a financial backstop. Your bank can block transactions with gambling merchants, adding one more barrier between an impulse and a deposit.

Digital Environment Audit

Self-exclusion addresses the operator relationship, but your broader digital environment may still be saturated with gambling signals. Delete gambling apps, clear saved passwords, remove bookmarks, unfollow betting accounts on social media, and adjust your ad preferences to exclude gambling categories. Each of these steps reduces the ambient exposure that can wear down resolve over time.

Making the Decision

Self-exclusion is a significant step, and it's normal to have mixed feelings about it. The permanence (or semi-permanence) of the decision can feel daunting. You might wonder if you're overreacting, if you'll regret it, if this is really "necessary."

Here's what's worth remembering: self-exclusion doesn't define you. It's a tool—one of many—that creates space for recovery. People use it at different stages and for different reasons. Some use it as a first step when they're just beginning their journey. Others use it after months of recovery as a way to formalize a commitment they've already made. There's no wrong time.

The fact that self-exclusion has gaps doesn't diminish its value. It does exactly what it's designed to do: remove your accounts, prevent new ones, and signal to the industry that you've opted out. The gaps simply mean it works best when paired with other tools that pick up where it leaves off.

Your recovery is a series of steps. Self-exclusion is one of the most decisive ones you can take.