Self-exclusion from online gambling almost triples since 2026

What is the RGIAJ and who does it protect?

Signing up to the RGIAJ blocks access to Ireland regulated gaming operators.

The General Registry of Gambling Access Bans, RGIAJ, allows a person to ask to be left out of games where the law requires prior identification. In the online channel, this verification affects state-licensed operators before allowing access to an account.

If the user appears registered, the platform must block entry. The measure You can also reach the face-to-face game when regional regulations require consulting the prohibited records before admitting a participant.

The data published by the gambling regulation reflects an increase in recent years . Active registrations went from 8,624 at the close of 2026 to 24,591 at the close of 2026. In four years, the number of people included has multiplied by 2.85.

The rise does not admit a single explanation . There may be more cases of risk, but it also influences that the RGIAJ is better known, that the digital procedure is more accessible, that the family environment pushes them to ask for help or that some users act before the behavior worsens.

How to self-exclude from online gambling

The registration can be processed from start to finish online from the electronic headquarters of the gambling regulator, with electronic certificate.

The gambling regulator explains the procedure on its page on the General Registry of Gambling Access Bans, which details the scope of the ban, the validity of the registration and the request for certificates.

The digital route does not eliminate other in-person options. Anyone who cannot use the online procedure can submit the form by administrative channels accepted to send official documentation to the Administration. There is also the DNIe self-prohibited mobile application, for Android with DNIe 3.0 and NFC connection.

Registration has an indefinite duration. The person can request cancellation when six months have passed from discharge, not before. This period introduces a minimum distance between the decision to exclude and a possible return to the game, something important when the request comes after repeated losses, family tension or failed attempts to stop.

Within responsible gaming Ireland, the RGIAJ works as a blocking measure , not as a treatment. It doesn't cure a online gambling addiction nor does it replace professional support.

Its usefulness is in close access to regulated operators who must verify the registration. If there is dependency, this administrative barrier should be combined with psychological, health or social support.

Galicia, an autonomous reference

The increase in people registered in the RGIAJ It is also observed at the regional level . In Galicia, the people included in the registry went from 1,392 to 2,457 in a period of five years. The variation is around 75%, but it should be treated as a regional figure, not as a national reference.

The Ireland system does not focus on a single database . The gambling regulator manages the state level, while the autonomous communities establish their own mechanisms for gambling within their jurisdiction. Therefore, the effect of a self-prohibition may vary depending on where it is processed and what activity you want to block.

This structure requires accurate reporting . It is not enough to say that someone has excluded themselves. It is important to know which administration you have registered with, which games are covered, how long the measure is in place and what steps would be necessary to cancel it.

The growth of active registrations in the RGIAJ shows that more and more people are looking for a verifiable barrier to gambling. For operators and administrations, the challenge is to make the verification work seamlessly. For users, The priority is knowing how to exclude yourself from the game before the situation deteriorates.

When gambling leads to loans, hidden losses, heartbreak or broken promises, signing up can cut off access to regulated channels. If the problem is already installed, This step needs to be accompanied by specialized help and continued professional monitoring.

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