Self-exclusion from land-based gambling

Request

I would like to know how many people in the UK are self-excluded from land-based gambling, in total, please. If this is not possible to answer...please could you tell me how many people in the UK are self-excluded from M.O.S.E.S - The Multi-operator-self-exclusion-scheme.

And then the same information for Bacta - Bacta.org.uk, and also the same info for Sense - senseselfexclusion.com and then finally The Bingo-association.

Response

Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

In your email you have requested:

• How many people in the UK are self-excluded from land-based gambling, in total.
• If this is not possible to answer...please could you tell me how many people in the UK are self-excluded from M.O.S.E.S - The Multi-operator-self-exclusion-scheme.
• The same information for Bacta - Bacta.org.uk,
• The same info for Sense - senseselfexclusion.com
• Finally, The Bingo-association.

Firstly, for context, self-exclusion is a tool used by those who have recognised that their gambling is harmful to them. It is for those who wish to be supported to stop gambling.

Gambling businesses are required to have their own self-exclusion arrangements in place. People may wish to exclude from one business only.

People can also choose to self-exclude via a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme. These schemes allow you to make a single request to self-exclude from the same type of land-based gambling within your area. GAMSTOP allows you to self-exclude from online operators with one request.

Further information about each of the multi-operator schemes can be found on our webpage: Free multi operator and national self-exclusion schemes (gamblingcommission.gov.uk).

The information held by the Gambling Commission falling within the scope of your request is presented in the below table. This information which is provided by self-exclusion providers on a voluntary basis. It does not form part of the Gambling Commissions regulatory functions and there is no statutory mechanism for us to compel providers to submit this data. As such the table shows the latest complete set of data held by the Commission.

Please note, IHL are a Scheme Owner themselves for arcades. However, they also are a tech provider for Bacta and SENSE. To provide a ‘full picture’ of all the land-based self-exclusions as per your request, we have included IHL in the information below.

Land-Based Gambling Multi-Operator Self Exclusions

Land-Based Gambling Multi-Operator Self Exclusions

Provider	Scheme	Reporting	Year	Period	Number
MOSES	Betting	Quarterly	Financial Year (FY) 23	Financial Quarter (FQ) 1	1,751
SENSE	Casinos	Quarterly	FY23	FQ1	1,013
BACTA and IHL	Arcades	Quarterly	FY23	FQ1	1,881
Bingo	Bingo	Quarterly	FY23	FQ1	1,185

Total number of self-exclusions added to the scheme during the reporting period.

Reporting period, FY23 FQ1 (1 April 2023 – 30 June 2023).

Review of the decision

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your Freedom of Information request you are entitled to an internal review of our decision. You should write to FOI Team, Gambling Commission, 4th floor, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP or by reply to this email.

Please note, internal review requests should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.

If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already exhausted the review procedure provided by the Gambling Commission.

The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in a new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Information Management Team
Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham B2 4BP