Responsible gambling and affordability

Self-Exclusion Schemes Compared: GAMSTOP, Spelpaus, OASIS, Cruks, BetGuard and More

How national self-exclusion schemes work in each regulated market, the durations available, when operators must check them, and what operators must do with accounts and marketing.

5 min readPart of responsible gambling and affordability

On this page
  1. How do self-exclusion schemes compare?
  2. What must operators do when someone self-excludes?
  3. What does the UK require?
  4. How should operators integrate national schemes?
  5. What should happen when an exclusion ends?
  6. Worked example: a Brazilian self-exclusion notice
  7. What mistakes do operators commonly make?
  8. Checklist
  9. Frequently asked questions
  10. Sources
  11. More guides

Most regulated markets run a national or state self-exclusion scheme that blocks a person from all licensed operators for a chosen period: GAMSTOP in Great Britain, Spelpaus in Sweden, OASIS in Germany, Cruks in the Netherlands, BetGuard in Ontario, a centralized SPA platform in Brazil and state lists in the US. Operators must check the scheme at the required moments, block access, handle balances under the rules, and stop all marketing to excluded people.

Key takeaways

  • Spelpaus: 10 days to “until further notice” (minimum 12 months); cannot be ended early [1].
  • Cruks: minimum six months, with an eight-day reflection period before removal [2].
  • Brazil’s platform: 1 to 12 months or indefinite; operators block within 72 hours and check at registration, first daily login and every 15 days [3].
  • BetGuard launched on 14 May 2026, run by iGaming Ontario [4].
  • In the UK, operators must remove self-excluded customers from marketing within two days (LCCP 3.5.3) [5].
7+national or state schemes compared
2 daysUK marketing removal
72 hoursBrazil blocking deadline

How do self-exclusion schemes compare?

Self-exclusion schemes compared
Scheme Market Durations Key operator duty Source
GAMSTOP Great Britain 6 months, 1 year or 5 years Participation required (LCCP 3.5.5); block registrants [6]
Spelpaus Sweden 10 days; 1, 3 or 6 months; until further notice (min. 12 months) Block all gambling requiring registration [1]
OASIS Germany Self-exclusion for set periods Check before play [7]
Cruks Netherlands Minimum six months Ensure excluded players cannot gamble [2]
BetGuard Ontario Set periods AGCO standard 2.14.1 [4]
SPA platform Brazil 1 to 12 months or indefinite Block within 72 hours; checks at registration, first daily login and every 15 days [3]
Responsible Gaming Database Michigan 1 year or 5 years No online accounts while enrolled [8]
iGaming self-exclusion Pennsylvania 1 year, 5 years or lifetime Stop marketing; deny accounts [9]

What must operators do when someone self-excludes?

  1. Block accessStop new bets and deposits immediately or within the deadline.
  2. Handle balancesReturn funds under local rules (for example Brazil within two days; New Jersey within 90 days).
  3. Suppress marketingRemove from all marketing databases; in the UK within two days.
  4. Close or lock the accountPer local rules.
  5. Keep recordsBrazil requires at least five years.

See CRM suppression and self-exclusion and suppressing CRM after self-exclusion.

What does the UK require?

How should operators integrate national schemes?

Scheme integration steps
Step Detail
Registration check Check before account creation
Login check Where required, for example Brazil at first daily login
Periodic recheck Brazil every 15 days for active users
Event handling Process notifications within deadlines
Marketing sync Push status to all marketing systems
Reporting Keep evidence of checks and actions

What should happen when an exclusion ends?

Ending an exclusion should not mean marketing resumes automatically. UK rules require self-excluded customers to be removed from marketing during the exclusion [5], and good practice is to keep them off marketing lists after it ends until the customer actively chooses to return. Operators should treat returning players carefully, check for harm markers and avoid win-back offers.

Worked example: a Brazilian self-exclusion notice

  1. SPA platform notifies the operator that a bettor has self-excluded for six months.
  2. New bets blocked immediately; CRM suppression applied across all channels.
  3. Account closed; remaining balance refunded to the registered account.
  4. Record kept for five years.
  5. Active user base rechecked against the platform.

What mistakes do operators commonly make?

Checking only at registration

Brazil and other schemes require repeated checks [3].

Marketing through affiliates

Still the operator’s responsibility in the UK [10].

Treating time-outs as self-exclusion

Different tools with different rules.

Checklist

  • Scheme integrations per market.
  • Checks at required moments.
  • Immediate betting block.
  • Balance handling per local rules.
  • Marketing suppression across group and affiliates.
  • Records retained.
  • Checks at registration, login and periodically where required.
  • No automatic marketing after exclusion ends.

Frequently asked questions

What is GAMSTOP?

Great Britain’s national online self-exclusion scheme.

Can I end Spelpaus early?

No.

How long is the minimum Cruks exclusion?

Six months.

What is BetGuard?

Ontario’s centralized self-exclusion program, launched on 14 May 2026.

How does Brazil’s self-exclusion work?

Through an SPA platform; operators must block within 72 hours and stop all targeted advertising.

Can I get my balance back after self-excluding?

Yes, operators must return remaining funds under local rules.

Will I still get marketing?

No. Operators must stop marketing to self-excluded people.

Is there a lifetime option?

Some schemes offer it, such as Pennsylvania’s iGaming list.

Does marketing resume when an exclusion ends?

Not automatically; operators should wait for the player to choose to return.

How often must Brazilian operators check the platform?

At registration, at first login each day, and every 15 days for active users.

Sources

  1. Spelpaus.se summary
  2. Gambling Insider: KSA updated Cruks scheme (April 2023)
  3. iGaming Business Brasil: Brazil launches self-exclusion platform (December 2025)
  4. AGCO: centralized self-exclusion standards in effect
  5. Gambling Commission: LCCP 3.5.3 remote SR code
  6. Gambling Commission: LCCP 3.5.5
  7. GGL (official site)
  8. Michigan Gaming Control Board: responsible gaming FAQ
  9. Pennsylvania: iGaming self-exclusion (PA Council)
  10. Gambling Commission: affiliates or third parties

CRM suppression and self-exclusion

How to suppress marketing after self-exclusion and RG flags: GAMSTOP, BetGuard, Spelpaus, OASIS.

Markers of harm

The behaviour and payment signals regulators expect operators to monitor and act on.

Deposit limits by market

Mandatory and default deposit limits in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Malta, Ontario and US states.

Multi-accounting detection

How operators link duplicate accounts using identity, payment, device and behaviour signals.

KYC rules by market

When identity and age must be verified in eight regulated markets, and which registers apply.

Further reading elsewhere