UK self-exclusion schemes explained: MOSES, SENSE, Bacta, BISES, SmartEXCLUSION and GAMSTOP
Which multi-operator self-exclusion scheme covers which kind of gambling venue in Great Britain, how customers enrol, and what each scheme means for operators.
If you run gambling premises in Great Britain, you must take part in at least one multi-operator self-exclusion scheme for your sector. Each scheme is different in how customers enrol, how far an exclusion reaches and how information reaches your staff.
The Betting and Gaming Council lists five national schemes; the Gambling Commission also recognises SmartEXCLUSION for high-street bingo and adult gaming centres. Here is how they fit together.
At a glance
| Scheme | Who it covers | How customers enrol |
|---|---|---|
| MOSES | Betting shops | By phone; customers choose the areas and shops to exclude from |
| SENSE | All licensed land-based casinos in Great Britain | In person at any casino, or by email with ID and a photo |
| Bacta scheme | Adult gaming centres | At one venue or by phone; covers venues within a set radius |
| BISES | Licensed land-based bingo premises | Through a bingo venue, with a digital form and photo |
| SmartEXCLUSION | High-street bingo and adult gaming centres | In person at a venue or by phone |
| GAMSTOP | Online gambling only | Online |
MOSES — betting shops
The Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme lets a customer exclude from as many betting shops as they need in one call. Rather than a national ban, the customer identifies the places they live, work and travel, and the scheme maps the relevant shops. For operators, that means the list of excluded customers for any one shop depends on its location — a town-centre shop near a station can carry a long list.
SENSE — casinos
SENSE (Self-Enrolment National Self-Exclusion) is the national scheme for land-based casinos. One application excludes a customer from every licensed land-based casino in Great Britain, and their details are removed from casino marketing databases. Because enrolment requires ID and a photograph, casinos — which typically register members at the door — have a natural checkpoint. The challenge is making sure the check actually happens every time.
Bacta scheme and SmartEXCLUSION — adult gaming centres
Adult gaming centres (AGCs) are covered by the scheme run by Bacta, the trade body for the amusement and gaming machine sector, and by SmartEXCLUSION. As the BBC reported, a customer completes a form and has their photo taken; details are shared with AGCs within a 1km radius, and the zone can be extended by calling a helpline. Venues are also expected to share details of anyone who attempts to breach their exclusion with nearby premises.
AGCs are where recent failures have been most visible — see why photo-based enforcement fails.
BISES and SmartEXCLUSION — bingo
The Bingo Industry Self-Exclusion Scheme (BISES) is run by the Bingo Association and covers licensed land-based bingo premises across Great Britain. Customers enrol through a bingo venue with a digital form and photograph. SmartEXCLUSION also covers high-street bingo.
GAMSTOP — online only
GAMSTOP is the national scheme for online gambling. It does not cover betting shops, casinos, arcades or bingo halls — a common misunderstanding among customers, and a reason venue staff should be ready to explain which scheme applies.
What this means for operators
Every scheme depends on the same final step: someone at the venue recognising the excluded person. Schemes supply the photographs; your team has to match them to a face at the door, often long after the photo was taken.
That is why many operators are looking at facial recognition for self-exclusion. A system like ClientScan holds the photographs from the schemes you belong to and checks every face on entry, alerting staff when there is a likely match so they can follow your procedure.
If a customer asks about self-exclusion or support, the National Gambling Helpline is available free, 24/7, on 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
01Does GAMSTOP cover betting shops or casinos?
No. GAMSTOP covers online gambling with operators licensed in Great Britain. Land-based venues are covered by sector schemes: MOSES for betting shops, SENSE for casinos, the Bacta scheme and SmartEXCLUSION for adult gaming centres, and BISES and SmartEXCLUSION for bingo.
02How long does a land-based self-exclusion last?
It depends on the scheme and what the customer chooses. Typical periods run from six months to several years. Venues must honour the full period the customer has selected.
03Who is responsible for spotting a self-excluded customer?
The venue. Schemes collect and share the customer's details and photograph, but the Gambling Commission has been clear that the onus is on the gambling business and its staff to identify the individual.
Sources
- [1]Self Exclusion Schemes — Betting and Gaming Council
- [2]Free multi-operator and national self-exclusion schemes — Gambling Commission
- [3]Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme (MOSES) — MOSES
- [4]SENSE — Self-Enrolment National Self-Exclusion — SENSE
- [5]Self-Exclusion — Bingo Association
- [6]Gambling centres 'failing to protect' addicts on self-exclusion — BBC News, 17 June 2025