International Prevalence of Self-exclusion From Gambling: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Purpose of Review The international rise in gambling opportunities has increased focus on gambling harm reduction tools including self-exclusion. The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the international prevalence of self-exclusion from gambling in the general adult population and by level of problem gambling risk (low-risk, moderate-risk, and problem gambling). The secondary aim was to estimate the prevalence of awareness of self-exclusion programmes overall and by problem gambling risk. Recent Findings Grey literature (through gambling repositories, gambling research institutes, Google) and peer-reviewed literature (through ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus) were searched for gambling prevalence studies from 2010 onwards reporting on use or awareness of self-exclusion (defined as an agreement between an individual and gambling operator to have a period of prohibited access to gambling venues or websites/apps). Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The international prevalence of self-exclusion was 0.26% (95%CI 0.16–0.43, k = 11). The prevalence of self-exclusion was significantly higher among participants in the problem gambling category (15.20%, 95%CI 11.00–19.39, k = 5) than those in the moderate-risk gambling (2.50%, 95%CI 1.32–4.69, p < 0.001, k = 5), and low-risk gambling (0.53%, 95%CI 0.05–5.48, p < 0.001, k = 5) categories. The prevalence of self-exclusion awareness was 11.09% (95%CI 6.67–17.89, k = 5). Awareness was significantly higher among participants in the problem gambling category compared to the low-risk gambling category ( p = 0.029, k = 2). Summary One in 40 moderate-risk gamblers and 1 in 7 people with problem gambling have used self-exclusion. Just over one in 10 people who gamble have awareness of self-exclusion to reduce gambling harm.