To answer my own original question - yes, it was absolutely worth it. The temptation from non-Gamstop sites will always be there, but having that barrier in place for 90% of the market makes all the difference.

Cheers to everyone who shared their stories. Proper helpful stuff.

Reading everyone's experiences, think I need to take the plunge. Better to overreact than lose the house, literally.

Makes me even more sure that my self-exclusion was right. Been 14 months now since I blocked myself from Virgin Games and BetVictor after losing £7,800 in one weekend on Bonanza Megaways.

The success rates are actually pretty good IF people avoid the non-Gamstop sites. But the marketing from those offshore operators specifically targets excluded UK players. It's predatory as hell.

Fixed the underlying issue, but still keeping the exclusion in place. Why tempt fate?

Self-exclusion treats the symptom, not the cause. Though I admit, sometimes you need to stop the bleeding before you can heal the wound.

Simple version: staying away from gambling gets easier over time, but there's always some risk of going back, especially with all these offshore sites advertising everywhere.

@mike_bet The fact you bounced back from that Mystake slip-up shows you've got the right mindset.

Consider this probability model for relapse:

P(relapse) = ∫[0,t] λ(s) × e^(-∫[0,s] λ(u)du) ds

Where λ(s) represents the hazard function of relapse at time s, incorporating stress factors, social triggers, and accessibility to non-regulated platforms.

The integration shows that even with UKGC exclusions, the cumulative relapse probability increases with exposure to alternative platforms.

Sounds weird but I get some of the fun without the financial risk. Though I know that wouldn't work for everyone.

@sarah_g @mike_bet How do you handle that side of things?

The numbers don't lie. @mike_bet you made the right call mate.

That experience actually reinforced why I'd self-excluded in the first place. The adrenaline rush lasts minutes, the regret lasts days.

Also, be honest - how many of you have actually tried the non-Gamstop route as a 'workaround'?

I tried the 'educated gambler' approach for years - studying RTPs, bonus hunting, all that jazz. Still ended up £12k down over 3 years at 32Red and Mr Green. The house edge always wins eventually.

Self-exclusion doesn't make you smarter about gambling - it just removes the option. Which might be exactly what some people need, I suppose.

That said, @mike_bet if it's working for you after 2 years, don't question it. The money you've saved probably covers a nice holiday instead of funding NetEnt's shareholders.

Also unsubscribed from everything gambling-related and changed my email address. Those bonus emails are designed to trigger relapses - they're toxic.

The worst part is I keep getting emails from comparison sites showing 'amazing bonuses' at places like Donbet and Velobet. It's like they know exactly when you're vulnerable.

Success Rate = (Days_Without_Gambling × Willpower_Factor) / (Trigger_Events × Available_Alternatives)

Where Willpower_Factor typically ranges 0.6-0.9, Trigger_Events include stress/boredom, and Available_Alternatives covers non-Gamstop sites.

Basically, blocking 90% of options (UKGC sites) increases success probability exponentially compared to just setting limits.

@mike_bet The fact you're even aware of the non-Gamstop sites shows you're still thinking about it. Maybe the complete break is what you needed.

Honestly, the self-exclusion saved my life. Yeah, I know about casinos not on gamstop uk but I've managed to stay away. The key for me was deleting all gambling apps and blocking the websites on my router.