Impact of Self-Exclusion Policies on Sports Betting and Online Casino Choices

Beyond the UK, other jurisdictions have introduced similar centralized or multi-operator self-exclusion registers, reflecting a growing recognition of their potential to reduce gambling harm. The effectiveness of CRUKS relies heavily on compliance by gambling operators and awareness among players. “We are strong advocates for education around responsible gambling and ensuring all of our customers are able to make an informed choice.

Despite regulatory efforts, these tactics show that penalties and restrictions have little effect, as operators and their partners continue to find ways to work around them. Some clubs even altered gambling company names on jerseys to appear unrelated while still linking to betting platforms. France imposed a€800,000 penalty, while Australia’s fine was only AU$60,000 (~€38,000). The company also operated in other restricted markets, often paying minor fines while continuing business as usual. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Unibet allowed 15 self-excluded players to register and gamble between November 22, 2022, and January 30, 2023.

Alternatively, you can use the Unibet live chat option to start a conversation with a bookie’s representative and ask for account closure. Remember that if you decide to self-exclude, you will not be able to open a new account, as that would go against the terms and conditions of the platform. This further reinforces the idea that fines are merely an operational cost for companies like Unibet rather than a true deterrent. This case highlights how clubs and sponsors manipulate sponsorship rules to maintain gambling visibility. In Belgium, new gambling sponsorship laws came into effect on January 1, 2025, prohibiting sports clubs from promoting gambling brands on team shirts and limiting gambling logos in stadiums. While clubs can still feature gambling logos on the back of shirts, they cannot exceed 75 cm² in size.

You can contact Unibet customer support to find out whether you are self-excluded and, if so, when the exclusion period ends. If you have gone through the alternatives to deleting your account and still feel it is the only way out, follow the steps below to delete your Unibet account. The same year, ACMA also fined Seven Network Operations Ltd for broadcasting a gambling advert outside the specified times during live sports coverage on its streaming service. Otherwise, the industry will continue viewing financial penalties as just another cost of doing business.

However SPS Betting, the company that operates Unibet’s French site, disputed the ANJ’s estimate and argued that the number of accounts potentially affected should be reduced to between 4,035 and a maximum of 4,888. There are unofficial user reports that Unibet limits the activity of users who win on a consistent basis. The process for restoring a suspended Unibet account can vary depending on the reason for suspension and the policies in place.

Still, ACMA emphasizes that Unibet should’ve closed the accounts as soon as the individual registered for BetStop. However, self-exclusion systems are only one part of a wider set of responsible gambling tools, which include spending limits, reality checks, and access to counseling services. Moreover, their impact is limited by the jurisdictional reach and the regulatory powers of the authorities involved. Despite their prevalence, self-exclusion policies also have broader implications for the betting and casino industries. They influence player behavior and market dynamics in ways that extend beyond the intended protective effects.

• They influence player behavior and market dynamics in ways that extend beyond the intended protective effects.
• As long as fines stay small relative to revenue, operators will likely see them as minor inconveniences rather than serious deterrents.
• Due to a system error, self-exclusion periods set by players — ranging from several weeks to months — were incorrectly converted into significantly shorter durations.
• These systems have become an essential part of responsible gambling policies in many regulated markets, including the UK, Australia, and parts of Europe.
• Uf you can’t access your Unibet account it may be because you self-excluded from the platform at some point.

Regulators impose fines on gambling operators to enforce compliance and responsible business practices. However, given the scale of these companies, do fines serve as real deterrents or merely minor operational costs? Take Unibet, for example – its regulatory issues in France, the Netherlands, and Australia, along with its history of operating in unlicensed markets, suggest that financial penalties may not be enough.

Alternatives for Players Seeking No Self-Exclusion Options

All of our customers should have the tools and support they need to enjoy our products responsibly, and by offering this service for free to all of our customers we are certainly taking a step in the right direction. If you still feel sad about losing your Unibet account, you may consider alternatives to deleting your account for good. The options below will ensure you limit gambling or take a break from active gambling.

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In total, these malfunctions lasted almost 22 months, seriously compromising player protection. The ANJ’s sanctions committee, however, confirmed the violations and imposed multiple penalties, citing the severity and duration of the breaches — particularly given their impact on problem gambling prevention. The Unibet glitch, however, meant that from 2 March 2021 to 11 December 2022, self-excluded players could regain access within days.

In most cases your account will have been flagged automatically by Unibet’s compliance software and Unibet will have its compliance staff check the account for issues. It can unibetofficial.com be a sickening feeling to try log into your Unibet account and discover that your account has been restricted, or even worse suspended completely. If you have money when you close your account, contact the Unibet support team to send the amount to you.

In view of the seriousness and duration of these breaches, the ANJ Sanctions Committee has imposed an €800,000 fine on SPS Betting. This decision underlines the importance attached to the prevention of excessive gambling and the responsibility of online operators. Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats.

Under French law, online gambling operators must provide a mechanism allowing users to voluntarily exclude themselves for periods of time ranging from 24 hours to 12 months. The investigation also found that the operator continued to offer services to 45 former NSER users using old accounts that should’ve been closed. ACMA discovered that these customers had placed thousands of bets, including one user who placed over 1,200 bets using their old account. The investigation discovered that 45 of the 954 affected user accounts remained open for 190 days or more.