To self exclude from gambling, a player fills in a self exclusion form with the operator or, where one exists, a national scheme that covers every licensed site at once. A single online self exclusion usually covers only that operator and its sister brands, so excluding from all gambling sites needs the national scheme or a separate request to each. Whether self exclusion includes online gambling, venues or both depends on the scheme, and its terms say so.
What happens if a player tries to breach self exclusion depends on the scheme, but operators are expected to close any account they find, refuse deposits and return or withhold stakes placed during the ban. Winnings from a breach are commonly voided. Self exclusion does not affect a credit rating, since gambling records are not shared with credit agencies, although spending patterns on a bank account can still be seen by a lender who reads the statements.
Responsible gambling is the set of rules and tools meant to keep gambling a pastime. The usual tools are deposit limits, loss limits, session reminders, time outs and self exclusion. Many operators employ a responsible gambling officer who handles these requests and watches for signs of harm, and some countries fund a responsible gambling council that sets standards and runs campaigns, including an awareness week or month each year. Whether responsible gambling exists in practice depends on how firmly those tools are applied.