Self-Exclusion Without a Register: Stepping Away in India

In some countries a player can sign one form and be shut out of every licensed gambling site at once. India has no such register. Online money games have been prohibited here since 1 May 2026 under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, and because there is no licensing system there is also no national list of excluded players. That does not leave you without options. This page sets out what you can do yourself, step by step, to put real distance between you and a gambling account such as Cosmos — and where to find someone to talk to. It sits alongside our responsible gambling guide; the India home page explains the law in more detail.

Why "just a break" often fails

Many gambling sites offer cooling-off periods of a day, a week or a month. They sound sensible, but they come with a built-in end date, and that date has a way of becoming a plan: the break ends, the account is still there, the saved card is still there, and so is the urge to win back what was lost. A permanent closure removes that appointment. If you are reading this page because gambling has been costing you money, sleep or peace at home, aim for permanent, and treat every extra barrier you add below as part of the same decision.

Step one: ask the operator to close the account in writing

Only the operator can close or exclude a Cosmos account. Write to its support from the email address registered on the account. Keep the message short and unambiguous: you want the account closed or self-excluded permanently, you do not want it reopened even if you ask later, and you want all marketing messages to stop. Ask for a written confirmation and save it. If you still have a balance from before the ban, ask in the same message what happens to it and keep the reply. Our support page has tips on wording a request so it is acted on, and the complaints page explains what to do if support does not respond.

Step two: remove the easy routes back

Uninstall gambling apps and delete any app files you downloaded from mirror pages.
Log out everywhere, then remove saved passwords and autofill entries for gambling sites from your browser and password manager.
Delete any saved cards or linked payment details on the account before it is closed, and remove gambling merchants from wallets where your app allows it.
Unsubscribe from promotional emails and texts, and block numbers that send gambling offers.
Leave tipster groups, prediction channels and "working link" chats on messaging apps.

Each of these takes a minute. Together they turn a moment of impulse into a long, deliberate process — which is exactly what you want.

Step three: ask someone you trust to help

Device-level blocking works best when someone else holds the key. A family member or friend can set up content filtering or parental-control features on your phone and laptop and keep the password. It can feel awkward to ask, but people who manage to stay away from gambling often say that telling one trusted person was the turning point. Being open also makes it easier to talk about money before a problem grows — for example, before taking a loan from a quick-loan app to cover losses.

Mirrors and new domains

Closing an account does not stop new addresses from appearing in search results or messages. A mirror is simply another route to the same service; it does not change what the Act prohibits, and it is a common hiding place for copycat pages that steal logins and documents. If you see a "new working link", do not open it. Our page on mirrors explains how they work.

Where to get help

You do not have to do this alone, and asking for help is not a sign of failure. Tele MANAS, run by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is free, confidential and open 24/7 at 14416 or 1800-891-4416, in more than 20 languages. It is a general mental-health line rather than a gambling service, and stress, debt and anxiety are exactly what it is there for. Gambling Therapy offers free, gambling-specific support online through chat, forums and groups, and Gamblers Anonymous has a meeting finder for peer support. Our editor Mireille Brassard keeps this list current; if a number has changed, write to info@cosmoscasino.biz.

Questions about self-exclusion

Is there a national self-exclusion register in India?

No. India has no gambling regulator for online money games and no national register that blocks you from every site with one request. Self-exclusion has to be arranged with each operator, plus the practical steps on your own devices and accounts.

How do I ask the operator to close or exclude my account?

Write to the operator's support from the email registered on the account. Say clearly that you want the account closed or self-excluded permanently, that you do not want it reopened, and that you want no marketing messages. Ask for written confirmation and keep it.

Is a short break enough?

For many people it is not. A cooling-off period ends on a date, and the urge often returns with it. If you are asking the question, a permanent closure plus removing apps, saved logins and saved cards usually works better than a timer.

Who can I talk to?

Tele MANAS answers free and 24/7 at 14416 or 1800-891-4416 in more than 20 languages; it is a general mental-health line, not a gambling service. Gambling Therapy offers free gambling-specific support online, and Gamblers Anonymous lists peer meetings.