How is self-exclusion for pathological gamblers?

Gambling addiction, also called "pathological gambling" is characterized by the need and uncontrollable urge to play, bet or participate in any type of game of chance that involves betting , both physically and online.

The popularization of online games of chance, as well as digital casinos and online sports betting platforms, has led to an unprecedented rise in cases of gambling in our country, which constitutes a real public health problem for Spanish society.

The massive advertising campaigns for these new online gaming modalities, starring celebrities who are highly valued and loved by the vast majority of society, have only worsened the problem of gambling addiction and favor people with addiction becoming younger and younger .

In order to overcome a gambling problem or gambling addiction, there are many options and strategies that we can follow; Among the most common is psychological consultation with a professional who is an expert in compulsive gambling, and also self-exclusion applied in cases of pathological gambling .

What is self-exclusion for pathological gamblers?

Self-exclusion for pathological gamblers is a legal mechanism that any person addicted to gambling can take advantage of in order to have restricted physical and online access to all types of establishments where gambling is practiced.

This means having the entrance vetoed both in casinos, bingo halls or physical betting houses as well as in all kinds of online platforms and websites destined to the practice of games of chance and bets of all kinds.

Self-exclusion has proven to be very useful in overcoming a gambling addiction and is one of the essential requirements that most psychology professionals demand of their patients before starting therapy.

In short, self-exclusion is a tool based on the psychological strategy of stimulus control , consisting of ensuring that it will be impossible for the person to gamble or carry out their addictive behavior in any possible scenario.

Self-exclusion is also useful for getting the person to stop gambling compulsively and get out of the self-destructive spiral of gambling addiction, through which those affected end up generating enormous debts with both their own money and that of their family.

To achieve this self-exclusion it is necessary to carry out a series of specific steps, below we detail how the process works.

How does the self-exclusion record work?

Anyone who wants to submit their total self-exclusion from gambling at any State establishment can do so both online and in person at a large number of registries and offices.

Face-to-face modality

To enroll in a national self-exclusion, it is necessary to present the RGIAJ form in the registries provided for in article 16.4 Law 39/2015.

By Internet

We can do so by registering at the electronic office of the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling .

In addition to that, you can also send the request once we have filled it out using the "self-prohibited DNIe" mobile app, only available for Android, at the moment.

Finally, it should be noted that there is also the possibility of self-exclusion from specific online betting houses by asking for information about the process or consulting their web pages.

Is self-exclusion indefinite?

Self-exclusion from gambling establishments officially lasts indefinitely; however, the person may unsubscribe from said registry after 6 months .

This measure affects both the national registries and the specific registries of each location and supposes the possibility that the person can gamble again after 6 months, something that can suppose a relapse in addiction and the loss of all the progress previously achieved in therapy.

That is why, in order to avoid the high risk of relapse that exists during the first months of recovery from a case of compulsive gambling, self-exclusion is maintained indefinitely both in physical places and online portals.