Compliance
MOSES (Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme)
Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme
Definition
MOSES (Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme) lets a person in Great Britain self-exclude from multiple land-based betting shops through a single phone call. Launched in 2016, it now operates as Gamstop Betting Shops.
Key takeaways
- MOSES is the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme for betting shops in Great Britain, now operating as Gamstop Betting Shops.
- Joining a multi-operator scheme is a licence condition for GB betting, bingo, casino and adult gaming centre premises.
- Schemes are sector-specific, so exclusion from betting shops does not extend to arcades, casinos or online gambling.
Why it matters
Single-operator self-exclusion has an obvious flaw: a person who excludes from one betting shop can walk into the next. Multi-operator schemes exist to close it, covering a sector such as betting shops, arcades, bingo or casinos across a defined area from one request.
Participation is a licence condition in Great Britain for the relevant sectors, which makes non-participation a straightforward enforcement matter rather than a judgment call. Regulators have suspended licences and imposed penalties on operators found not to have joined, and those cases tend to be procedurally simple because the requirement is binary.
The schemes are sector-specific by design, so a person excluded from arcades is not thereby excluded from betting shops or from online gambling, which is covered separately. That fragmentation is the most common criticism of the model.
The bottom line
Multi-operator schemes fix the problem of the shop next door. They do not fix the problem of the sector next door, which is why exclusion remains easier to request than to achieve.
Sources
- Gamstop Betting Shops (previously MOSES): About - Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme Ltd
- LCCP 3.5.6: Multi-operator non-remote SR code - Gambling Commission
Frequently asked questions
What is MOSES self-exclusion?
MOSES, the Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme, lets a person in Great Britain exclude themselves from multiple land-based betting shops in one telephone call instead of approaching each bookmaker separately. It was launched in 2016, is run by a not-for-profit company, and now operates under the name Gamstop Betting Shops. An adviser helps identify the shops the person uses or might realistically try to use and records the exclusion.
Does MOSES cover online gambling?
No. MOSES covers land-based betting shops only. Online gambling in Great Britain is covered separately by GAMSTOP, the national online self-exclusion scheme that every online licensee must join. Other land-based sectors, such as arcades, bingo halls and casinos, have their own schemes, so a person who wants to stop gambling across every channel has to register with more than one.
Why does multi-operator self-exclusion matter for operators?
In Great Britain, non-remote betting, bingo and casino licensees and adult gaming centre operators must offer customers the ability to self-exclude from other operators' premises in their locality by joining a multi-operator scheme. Because it is a licence condition, failing to participate is a straightforward compliance breach that can lead to a licence review, a penalty or suspension.