A one-week self-exclusion changes almost nothing. A study of 3,203 British online casino players shows that short-term exclusion (≤38 days) rarely leads to changed gambling behavior. Only at exclusions longer than 90 days do players stop returning to the platform.
Source: Journal of Gambling Studies, 2023
What is Self-Exclusion?
Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) is a tool that allows players to voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling platforms for a certain period. This can range from a few days to several years or permanently.
- Immediate stop of gambling
- Technical barrier against impulsive gambling
- Time for reflection
- Can be catalyst for change
- Often only applies to one platform
- Does not solve underlying issues
- Short periods less effective
- Can be circumvented via other casinos
What does the research say?
We have read a peer-reviewed study published in Journal of Gambling Studies (2023). Researchers analysed 3,203 British online casino players who used self-exclusion between January 2021 and August 2022. It is the largest quantitative study we have found on the subject.
Key Study Results
A meta-analysis of international data shows that self-exclusion is only used by 0.26% of the adult population, but by 15.20% among people with identified gambling problems. This suggests the tool is underutilized.
Duration Determines Effectiveness
Research reveals a critical pattern: the duration of self-exclusion is crucial for whether it works.
| Exclusion Period | Outcome | Behavior Change |
|---|---|---|
| Short (≤38 days) | Most return | No significant change |
| Medium (39-90 days) | Mixed results | Some improvement possible |
| Long (>90 days) | Do not return | Significantly reduced gambling |
Taking "a one-week break" is in practice no break at all – not according to what the data shows. To break a problematic gambling pattern you need at least 90 days. During that window the brain unlearns the reward loop, and players who do return to the platform after 3 months gamble noticeably less than before.
Who Returns to Gambling?
Research identified several factors that increase the likelihood of a player returning after self-exclusion:
- Shorter exclusion period, Strongest predictor of return
- Higher gambling frequency before exclusion, Deeper habits harder to break
- More bets placed, More engaged gambling before break
- Female gender, Returned more often in study (cause unclear)
Players returning from short-term exclusion show no changes in their gambling patterns compared to control groups. This suggests short breaks function more as a "timeout" than as a tool for behavioral change.
Spelpaus in Sweden – how it works
Sweden has one of the world's most comprehensive national self-exclusion systems: Spelpaus. In our view it is the single most important difference between Swedish and international casinos. Spelpaus differs from operator-specific self-exclusion in four key ways:
- National coverage: Applies to all Swedish licensed casinos simultaneously
- Minimum periods: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, or indefinitely
- BankID-verified: Prevents others from registering you
- Marketing stop: Operators cannot send advertising to excluded players
Based on international research, we strongly recommend choosing at least 3 months of exclusion via Spelpaus if you feel your gambling has become problematic.
Go to Spelpaus.seWhat we recommend – based on the research
Research clearly shows that shorter periods rarely lead to behavior change. Three months is the minimum for effective exclusion.
Spelpaus (Sweden), Rofus (Denmark), etc. cover all licensed operators - not just one casino.
Self-exclusion is most effective combined with other help: helplines, therapy, or support groups.
Research shows that players returning after exclusion need extra attention. Consider extended exclusion if you notice patterns returning.
- Heirene, R.M., et al. (2023). The Efficacy of Voluntary Self-Exclusions in Reducing Gambling Among a Real-World Sample of British Online Casino Players. Journal of Gambling Studies. DOI: 10.1007/s10899-023-10198-y
- Kotter, R., et al. (2023). International Prevalence of Self-exclusion From Gambling: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Current Addiction Reports. DOI: 10.1007/s40429-023-00510-6
- Griffiths, M.D., et al. (2024). Limit-setting in online gambling: a comparative policy review of European approaches. Harm Reduction Journal. DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-01150-3