Self-Exclusion from Gambling: Systems and Regulations in Europe

Aims: To support more effective harm reduction policies, this study examines the regulation and implementation of gambling self-exclusion systems in 30 European countries. We map and compare existing self-exclusion policies in terms of scope, provisions and administration. Methods: We conducted a comparative policy review of legal texts, regulatory documents, and official websites, using web scraping and the Vixio Gambling Compliance database. Data were collected between June and September 2025. Results: Of the 30 countries, 24 (80 %) had self-exclusion registers, administrated by public authorities (19), licensed industry actors (2), or monopoly operators (3). Among these 24 countries, 20 (83 %) offered temporary self-exclusion with minimum durations ranging from 24 hours to 3 years. Permanent or indefinite self-exclusion was available in 18 countries (75 %), with revocation allowed after 3 months to 4.5 years. Half of countries with registers mandated marketing bans during self-exclusion. Conclusions: The results indicate that public sector administered self-exclusion registers are a popular policy solution, although their implementation details and provisions vary. The study therefore recommends increased collaboration towards establishing an EU-wide self-exclusion register. This measure should be supported by further research on what optimal self-exclusion durations are and how more uniform regulations can be effectively enforced.