Self-exclusion is a mechanism established by Portuguese law to promote responsible gambling, applicable to both physical casinos and online gambling and sports betting platforms.
This right, mandatory on legal betting sites, acts as a preventive measure against excessive gambling, enabling players to voluntarily inhibit themselves from betting for a limited or indefinite period. Limited self-exclusion must be for a minimum of three months, while indefinite self-exclusion involves account cancellation.
By the end of 2024, the Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) recorded 269,800 self-excluded players, a figure that rose by approximately 25.5% the following year, indicating the increasing use of this tool by Portuguese citizens.
The self-exclusion request, requiring personal data and, if applicable, the identification document number used for registration, can be made online. It is also possible to request territorial self-exclusion, prohibiting access to casinos, through in-person application, mail, or email. Self-exclusion revocation is possible but only becomes effective one month after notification, always respecting the minimum three-month period.
