[NEWS]Portugal launches centralised self-exclusion portal for online gambling

[acroman08]

What do you guys think about this? From what I understand, Portugal created a website where gamblers can request to be excluded from all online gambling sites that have a license in Portugal.

I'm sure we know that this wouldn't prevent all gamblers who used the portal from just finding other casinos where they are not excluded(probably offshore online casinos or illegal online casinos), but I still think the initiative Portugal made is still good.

Portugal’s Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) has launched a centralised online self-exclusion platform, effective April 8, aimed at strengthening player protection by allowing users to block access to all licensed online gambling sites in the country.

The new system enables individuals, as well as third parties acting on their behalf, to submit self-exclusion requests that apply across all licensed operators, reducing the risk of users bypassing restrictions by switching platforms.

The platform consolidates previously fragmented processes into a single interface designed to be intuitive and quick to use, with a mobile-friendly format reflecting the growing number of players accessing gambling services via smartphones and tablets.

The rollout comes as Portugal’s online gambling market continues to expand. Gross digital gaming revenue reached €297.1 million ($346.5 million) in the third quarter of 2025, the second-highest quarterly total on record, while land-based casino revenue fell 4.6% year-on-year.

Centralised self-exclusion systems are gaining traction globally, with several countries introducing similar measures. Brazil launched a nationwide system in December 2025, enabling users to block access to all licensed platforms, while Russia implemented a scheme in September 2025 that prevents users from revoking their exclusion within the first 12 months.

In the UK, the national self-exclusion register Gamstop reported a 40% increase in registrations among users aged 16 to 24 in the second half of 2025 and offers an auto-renewal feature that can extend exclusions indefinitely.

“The rise in take-up of our auto-renewal option, in particular, shows that many consumers are seeking longer-term support and recognise the value of self-exclusion in helping them manage their gambling,” said Fiona Palmer, chief executive of Gamstop Group.

Germany has also recorded strong uptake of its OASIS self-exclusion system, with nearly 350,000 registrations in its first four years, underscoring growing demand for responsible gambling tools worldwide.

[Coyster]

I'm sure we know that this wouldn't prevent all gamblers who used the portal from just finding other casinos where they are not excluded(probably offshore online casinos or illegal online casinos), but I still think the initiative Portugal made is still good.

There is only so much the authorities can do to help, they aren't going to confiscate the phones of those who have requested to be excluded, lol. So if they still somehow manage to move to offshore platforms, then that's that.

That said, it is a good initiative to support those who need this and there are many who do. After opting for this self-exclusion initiative, it is also imperative that the gamblers seek help from those whom they trust, so as to find a lasting solution to the problem of gambling.

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

What do you guys think about this? From what I understand, Portugal created a website where gamblers can request to be excluded from all online gambling sites that have a license in Portugal.

This is not bad as long as they are not forcing it on every citizens to abide by it, as from how I am seeing it, something like this has to be optional for anyone interested to you take advantage of it, you already know that there are problem gamblast and those that already got addicted and now looking for a way out through any strategy that may work.

[Zlantann]

It's a good move since Germany and the UK have experienced increased registration. It shows that people are finding these centralized self-exclusion websites helpful. I just hope people will get the needed help through these initiatives.

There have been cases of gamblers complaining that casinos failed to implement their self-exclusion request. Maybe these initiatives can reduce such occurrences. I also hope the government would offer support services to these self-exclusion applicants to help them stay committed to their decision to stay away from gambling for some time.

[Cryptomultiplier]

It's a good move since Germany and the UK have experienced increased registration. It shows that people are finding these centralized self-exclusion websites helpful. I just hope people will get the needed help through these initiatives.

There have been cases of gamblers complaining that casinos failed to implement their self-exclusion request. Maybe these initiatives can reduce such occurrences. I also hope the government would offer support services to these self-exclusion applicants to help them stay committed to their decision to stay away from gambling for some time.

This initiative would definitely help gamblers stay away from sites they no longer want to gamble on and for those who have become addicted, it is a great strategy to free themselves of that burden.
One good thing is it's availability on both mobile and laptop devices and it is site specific once a gambler can register on it.
This initiative is way better than increasing tax returns on gambling wins as it was done in Australia and Brazil in the past.

[hyudien]

I think this is a good step and I am quite sure this policy will have an impact, especially this policy is not forced on every citizen, they will only help those of you who really want to block all accounts that you use on every site under their control, because sometimes using the self-exclusion feature directly from the casino does not always work so with the help of the local government this will be handled quickly.

[EluguHcman]

What do you guys think about this? From what I understand, Portugal created a website where gamblers can request to be excluded from all online gambling sites that have a license in Portugal.

Yeah I grasped same verse as you but I am wondering why would the authority implement such technology of self exclusion of therein Portugal because it is ideal that they ( Portuguese government) are encouraging gambling whereas, if the regulating casinos restricts individual from accessing their sites may due to under age or other legal restrictions, the individual (s) can just navigate to use the unregulated sites.

Don't you think that gives certain privileges for gambling abuse? I am also sure that this ideal would make those licensed gambling sites lost certain degree of gamblers in their platforms.
I may be over thinking though probably because I may misunderstanding the passage there.

[Fortify]

Portugal’s Gaming Regulation and Inspection Service (SRIJ) has launched a centralised online self-exclusion platform, effective April 8, aimed at strengthening player protection by allowing users to block access to all licensed online gambling sites in the country.

The new system enables individuals, as well as third parties acting on their behalf, to submit self-exclusion requests that apply across all licensed operators, reducing the risk of users bypassing restrictions by switching platforms.

The platform consolidates previously fragmented processes into a single interface designed to be intuitive and quick to use, with a mobile-friendly format reflecting the growing number of players accessing gambling services via smartphones and tablets.

The rollout comes as Portugal’s online gambling market continues to expand. Gross digital gaming revenue reached €297.1 million ($346.5 million) in the third quarter of 2025, the second-highest quarterly total on record, while land-based casino revenue fell 4.6% year-on-year.

Centralised self-exclusion systems are gaining traction globally, with several countries introducing similar measures. Brazil launched a nationwide system in December 2025, enabling users to block access to all licensed platforms, while Russia implemented a scheme in September 2025 that prevents users from revoking their exclusion within the first 12 months.

In the UK, the national self-exclusion register Gamstop reported a 40% increase in registrations among users aged 16 to 24 in the second half of 2025 and offers an auto-renewal feature that can extend exclusions indefinitely.

“The rise in take-up of our auto-renewal option, in particular, shows that many consumers are seeking longer-term support and recognise the value of self-exclusion in helping them manage their gambling,” said Fiona Palmer, chief executive of Gamstop Group.

Germany has also recorded strong uptake of its OASIS self-exclusion system, with nearly 350,000 registrations in its first four years, underscoring growing demand for responsible gambling tools worldwide.

It's good to see some countries taking the lead on this, because while many casinos love to screech about "responsible gambling" it is really just an act and often their gambling controls are fairly limited. Even if they are strict, it is so easy for a gambler to jump between sites these days and there are thousands of them out there all willing to take player money. The protections to date have been so fragmented it's easy to bypass, it'd be nice if the EU as a whole came together and rolled out a program - then casinos would really have to care more care or potentially get blocked from access. The EU is one of the richest markets in the world and with that access should come certain responsibilities that many sites are lacking.

[Mhizlove]

I think this is a good step and I am quite sure this policy will have an impact, especially this policy is not forced on every citizen, they will only help those of you who really want to block all accounts that you use on every site under their control, because sometimes using the self-exclusion feature directly from the casino does not always work so with the help of the local government this will be handled quickly.

In addition I will say that most people are genuinely trying to stop, but with the level of addiction or temptation that is around them it's seems difficult, especially when they know that the access is still easy, fallback can easily happen without planning. With this kind of settings many ways can be blocked once, so that the person won't just come out of the blues and find a way of accessing it again

This can give a space to focus on recovery without any distractions and again that little obstacle can make a big difference for someone who is willing to change

[Rruchi man]

What do you guys think about this? From what I understand, Portugal created a website where gamblers can request to be excluded from all online gambling sites that have a license in Portugal.

Good action from the government, but maybe, perhaps, they can go an extra mile by adding some sort of orientation program for anyone who signs up to be excluded from all online gambling sites.

Sometimes it is not just about excluding; the brain needs rewiring, and the mindset needs to change, and orientation programs with professionals or something of that nature can help.

[acroman08]

Good action from the government, but maybe, perhaps, they can go an extra mile by adding some sort of orientation program for anyone who signs up to be excluded from all online gambling sites.

Sometimes it is not just about excluding; the brain needs rewiring, and the mindset needs to change, and orientation programs with professionals or something of that nature can help.

Yeah, I agree with this, the government need to do more than just the centralised self exclusion portal, they need to add support programs to help those who have used their website to be excluded from all licensed casinos in their country. If their goal is to reduce gambling addiction in their country, adding support programs to help those who have used their website would help their goal.

[Slow death]

Regarding this issue of self-exclusion, I wonder when a person realizes they are having gambling problems and deletes their casino account, are they cured of the problem? I think not. What they are doing is simply ignoring the problem or running away from the real problem, which is accepting the need to see a doctor and undergo treatment for the addiction. The main step for someone with gambling problems is to seek medical help in the real world, and the doctor will tell them exactly, step by step, how to get cured.

Because what I have seen are people who self-exclude themselves from one casino, then create an account at another casino, then self-exclude themselves again and create an account at yet another casino, and they don't seek medical help in the real world because they still haven't accepted that they are ill; they think they will cure themselves on their own. But unfortunately, they don't get cured, and the illness gets worse. That's why, in my opinion, creating this self-exclusion option is only good for those people who are mentally healthy and know they won't have time to play anymore, and for that reason, they delete their accounts.

[Fivestar4everMVP]

What do you guys think about this? From what I understand, Portugal created a website where gamblers can request to be excluded from all online gambling sites that have a license in Portugal.

I'm sure we know that this wouldn't prevent all gamblers who used the portal from just finding other casinos where they are not excluded(probably offshore online casinos or illegal online casinos), but I still think the initiative Portugal made is still good.

You are absolutely right but the initiative is still a very good one, this is one those things I usually sometimes talked about each time discussions around self exclusion from a casino comes up, I usually say it makes absolutely no sense for a gambler to exclude himself from one casino only to (in the next hour) find himself gambling on another casino like the reason he initially excluded himself from the other casino wasn't to avoid gambling.

What Portugal did by launching a platform where gamblers can request to be excluded from all every casino licensed in Portugal is a very good step in the right direction especially if this platform will be managed by the government of Portugal to ensure effective compliance especially from the casinos..
Even though the gambler may still find his or her way into gambling on other casinos still available at their disposal for one reason or another, I believe it's also with time, the government will Crack down on those casinos to ensure that who ever excludes himself from gambling in the country will have no means and access to gambling anymore except he or she travels out of the country

[rdluffy]

It’s interesting that there’s a thread talking (complaining to be honest) about self-exclusion here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5579612.0
I was reading through it and didn’t think it was particularly useful, since users can get around virtually any self-exclusion measure if they want to with a VPN, a new account, or a casino in another jurisdiction
But it could be a helpful tool for those who need it
I’m not sure how well users have accepted this tool

[retreat]

The initiative taken by the Portuguese government is quite good, but this alone will not be enough to prevent these gamblers from accessing casino platforms from which they have not been excluded. It still requires a high level of self-awareness from gamblers to commit to their own behavior and discipline themselves not to touch gambling platforms during the period they are excluded. This is because the portal only applies to gambling platforms regulated within their country, whereas crypto casinos or offshore casinos fall outside the jurisdiction of the governments.

[ovcijisir]

~
“The rise in take-up of our auto-renewal option, in particular, shows that many consumers are seeking longer-term support and recognise the value of self-exclusion in helping them manage their gambling,” said Fiona Palmer, chief executive of Gamstop Group.
~

Interesting, I thought that only websites that offer services that need subscription have auto-renewal option. I never encountered the casino that needed subscription.  Subscription model in gambling is either something completely new or the news reporter that wrote the article made a mistake when he wrote the article.

[Hispo]

Well. I actually think it is a good thing.
The more options people have in order to handle their money and their gambling habits, the better.
Though, I wonder if something like this could be implemented in order economies and countries where there is no so much awareness or care for gambling addiction or problem gambling.

I actually do not see countries from the third world implementing something like this, because it would be negatively affect their economies. Gambling is ironically high in low income countries.

The only bad thing is centralization and the way this data could be abused by the government.

[CryptSafe]

I'm sure we know that this wouldn't prevent all gamblers who used the portal from just finding other casinos where they are not excluded(probably offshore online casinos or illegal online casinos), but I still think the initiative Portugal made is still good.

There is only so much the authorities can do to help, they aren't going to confiscate the phones of those who have requested to be excluded, lol. So if they still somehow manage to move to offshore platforms, then that's that.

That said, it is a good initiative to support those who need this and there are many who do. After opting for this self-exclusion initiative, it is also imperative that the gamblers seek help from those whom they trust, so as to find a lasting solution to the problem of gambling.

I commend this move, though, because the government can intervene in all casinos to duly process such a request through any procedures they have spelt out to be adhered to by the casino in carrying out such a request by the player.
With the government involvement, casinos would honour requests from gamblers with regard to self-exclusion requests, and this would be very effective in that country, as no casino would want to risk the license and the market they already created for themselves.

[Questat]

What do you guys think about this? From what I understand, Portugal created a website where gamblers can request to be excluded from all online gambling sites that have a license in Portugal.

Easier that way, because with just one self exclusion request, you can already be blocked from all gambling sites under that system. Right now you still have to request it one by one per website, so sometimes it’s not really effective because not everyone will fully do that for every casino they use.

So I think it’s still a good initiative, but since this will probably only apply to licensed casinos that are registered in that country, what about gamblers who also use crypto casinos and want to self exclude there too?

[Orpichukwu]

Self-exclusion is somewhat useless; what they, the Portuguese government, have done can also be used to watch and monitor those gamblers who have applied for self-exclusion, not just by blocking their account since they can also fine offshore gambling platforms. They can just put them on close watch since they already have their data and know they have a gambling problem. It might be a bridge of privacy, but if they can watch the gamblers for some time, maybe through their phone activities and other financial activity, it could also help more than just limiting their access to the country-licensed casinos.