This is a guest contribution by Duncan Patman, a senior copywriter at DroidSlots and MobileSlots4U. If you would like to submit a contribution please contact Bill Beatty for submission details. Thank you.

UK gambling operators are required to offer the option for players to self-exclude from gambling activities, with the intention of allowing those struggling with a gambling disorder to get a handle on their problem with the aid of reduced temptation. There is a clear implication underlying this rule, suggesting that self-exclusion is an effective tool for curbing problem gambling, an implication which means promoting self-regulation has become a key part of operators’ responsible gambling literature.

What is less often discussed, however, is whether self-exclusion is really working. Without the assistance of counsellors or support groups, and with access to thousands of alternative gambling sites available at the click of a button, is it realistic to expect problem gamblers to rehabilitate aided by self-exclusion and will power alone?

The efficacy of self-exclusion