SENSE: Self-Exclusion From Land-Based Casinos

SENSE is the national self-exclusion scheme for licensed land-based casinos in Great Britain. One enrolment excludes you from casino venues covered by the scheme nationally.

How to enrol

You can enrol through the SENSE online self-enrolment portal or in person at a casino. Online enrolment requires identification, a photograph and a digital signature.

SENSE says enrolment is added to its system immediately, but individual casino records can take up to three working days to update.

How long the exclusion lasts

The minimum requested period is six months. You can extend that to a maximum of 12 months from the original enrolment date.

After the minimum or extended period ends, a six-month Thinking Period begins. During that period you can renew the exclusion or request removal.

How removal works

You cannot remove yourself during the minimum requested period. During the Thinking Period, removal has to be requested in person with a casino manager and confirmed through the scheme's removal process.

After a successful removal request, a further 24-hour cooling-off period applies before casino gambling can resume.

If you do nothing by the end of the Thinking Period, the current scheme terms provide for automatic removal, subject to transitional arrangements for older enrolments.

What happens if you enter a casino while excluded?

Participating casinos are expected to use reasonable efforts to prevent an excluded person from gambling. The SENSE terms also place responsibility on the person enrolled to stay away.

Under the current terms, if an excluded person does gamble, outstanding winnings are not paid and losses are not refunded.

What SENSE does not cover

SENSE is for land-based casinos. It does not itself exclude you from online gambling, betting shops or other gambling environments.

If you gamble in more than one setting, you may need more than one scheme.

Official sources

• SENSE official site
• SENSE current terms and conditions