Guide · 7 min read
How to close a bookmaker account properly
Closing a betting account takes five minutes, but doing it in the wrong order can leave money stuck or lock you out longer than you meant. This guide covers what to do before you click anything, the difference between closing, taking a break and self-excluding, what happens to your data, and whether you can come back later.
Updated 22 October 2026
Contents
Before you close anything: get your money out
The most common regret is closing an account with money still in it. Once closed, a withdrawal may need a support ticket, extra checks and weeks of emails. Do it the other way round:
- Let open bets settle. If you are a sure bettor, an open leg at this bookmaker is half of a position; closing the account early could void it and leave the other leg unhedged.
- Withdraw the whole balance to the payment method you deposited with, and wait until it has actually arrived in your bank account. Small leftovers count too: €3.20 is still your money. Bookmaker withdrawals explains processing times and closed-loop rules.
- Forfeit or finish bonuses consciously. An active bonus can block withdrawals until the wagering is done. Decide whether to finish it or give it up.
- Download your history. Bet history and transaction lists are useful for your own records, for tax questions (see tax and legality) and if a dispute ever comes up. After closure you may not be able to log in.
If the bookmaker charges fees on withdrawals or inactive accounts, that is another reason not to leave money behind. The terms worth checking guide shows where to find fee clauses.
Closure, time-out or self-exclusion: pick the right one
Most licensed bookmakers offer several ways to leave. They are not the same, and the difference matters if you might want to come back, or if you want to make sure you can't.
| Option | What it does | Reversible? |
|---|---|---|
| Account closure | Ends the contract with this one bookmaker. Often called "close account" or "deactivate". | Often yes, on request to support. Depends on the bookmaker. |
| Time-out / cool-off | Blocks the account for a short, fixed period, typically from 24 hours to a few weeks. | No, not before the period ends. |
| Self-exclusion (one bookmaker) | Blocks the account for months or years, sometimes indefinitely, as a responsible gambling measure. | No, not before the period ends; some require a request and a waiting period afterwards. |
| National self-exclusion register | Blocks you at every licensed operator in the country. In Slovakia this is the ÚRHH register of excluded persons. | Only after a minimum period and a formal request. |
If you are leaving because the account is no longer useful (for example, it was limited), a plain closure is enough. If you are leaving because betting is causing problems, a closure is the weakest tool: it is easy to reverse on a bad day. Choose a self-exclusion instead, and consider the national register.
Slovakia: the register of excluded persons (register vylúčených osôb) is run by the regulator ÚRHH. A self-exclusion lasts at least six months, and the application needs an officially verified signature. Licensed Slovak operators must check it for online accounts.
Austria: there is no single national self-exclusion register covering online sports betting. Use the self-exclusion tools of each bookmaker you hold an account with, and ask your bank whether it can block gambling payments. Self-exclusion in Austria walks through it account by account.
Free help is listed on our responsible gambling page.
Where to find the option at the main AT and SK bookmakers
Menus change often and differ between website and app, so treat this as a map, not a manual. As of October 2026 the pattern at the bookmakers most used in Austria and Slovakia is this:
| Bookmakers | Where to look |
|---|---|
| tipp3 (Austria) | "MEIN tipp3", then "Mein Profil", then "Selbstsperre": a break of 1, 3 or 6 months or a self-exclusion of 1, 2 or 3 years, both irrevocable once set. Permanent exclusion on request to customer service. Checked on 22 October 2026. |
| Tipico, Admiral, bwin, Interwetten, bet-at-home (Austria) | Account or profile menu, usually under "Responsible gaming" / "Spielerschutz" for time-outs and self-exclusion. A plain closure may be in the settings or may require a message to customer service. |
| bet365, William Hill (Austria) | Account menu, responsible gambling or gambling controls section, which offers closure, time-out and self-exclusion with different durations. |
| Tipsport, Fortuna, Niké, DOXXbet, Tipos (Slovakia) | Account settings, responsible gaming ("zodpovedné hranie") for limits and self-exclusion; closure via settings or customer service. Slovak operators also apply the ÚRHH register. |
If you can't find a closure button, write to customer service by email and ask for the account to be closed. A written request is better than chat anyway, because you get a dated confirmation. A short message is enough: your username, "please close my account", whether you want a closure or a self-exclusion and for how long, and a request to confirm in writing.
What happens to your data
Closing an account doesn't delete your data. You can ask for erasure under Article 17 GDPR, but the right has exceptions, including where the bookmaker must keep data to comply with a legal obligation. Under EU anti-money-laundering rules, obliged entities keep customer due diligence records and transaction records for five years after the business relationship ends. Self-exclusion data is also kept, because the bookmaker needs it to keep you excluded.
What you can expect: marketing stops, and data not covered by a legal duty is deleted on request. To see what is kept, request a copy under Article 15 GDPR; the bookmaker must answer within one month. If you want to stop marketing only, unsubscribe and object to direct marketing (Article 21 GDPR) without closing the account.
Can you reopen the account later?
- After a closure you asked for: many bookmakers reopen on request after checks. Some require a waiting period. A few treat every closure as final.
- After a time-out or self-exclusion: not before the period ends. After that some bookmakers reopen automatically, others need a request and a cooling-off period.
- After the bookmaker closed the account: usually not. Don't try to get around it with a new account, in your name or anyone else's. See bookmaker account closed for what to do instead.
For sure bettors there is one more point. New-customer offers usually exclude anyone who has had an account before, so closing and reopening doesn't make you "new" again. Think before closing an account that still works well: a limited account can still be useful for some markets (bookmaker limits explains when).
An example of the right order
Your account at Bookmaker A shows €412.50: €300 of balance and one open bet of €100 at 2.25 from a sure bet that kicks off on Saturday. The rest is a €12.50 bonus you haven't wagered.
Monday: withdraw the €300. Saturday: the bet wins and pays €100 × 2.25 = €225. Sunday: withdraw the €225 (the bonus has expired). The following Wednesday, when €525 has arrived in your bank account, download your history and request the closure in writing.
Had you closed the account on Monday, the open bet might have been voided, leaving the other leg of the sure bet at Bookmaker B unhedged, and the €525 would have needed a support ticket to get out.
Removing the bookmaker in ArbVantage
Once an account is closed, remove the bookmaker in Tracking so that the feed no longer shows opportunities that need it. Your past bets stay in the tracker. If you are closing accounts because you are stepping away from betting altogether, also cancel your ArbVantage subscription in the account settings or on our cancellation page.
Frequently asked questions
Should I withdraw before closing a bookmaker account?
Yes. Let open bets settle, withdraw the full balance to your own payment method and wait until it arrives. Withdrawing from a closed account usually needs support tickets and can take much longer.
What is the difference between closing an account and self-exclusion?
A closure ends the contract with one bookmaker and is often reversible on request. A self-exclusion blocks the account for a fixed period, months or years, and can't be lifted early. If betting is causing problems, self-exclusion is the stronger choice.
Will the bookmaker delete my data when I close my account?
Not all of it. You can request erasure under Article 17 GDPR, but bookmakers must keep certain records, for example under anti-money-laundering rules for five years after the relationship ends. Marketing should stop.
Can I reopen a closed bookmaker account?
Often yes if you closed it yourself, after checks or a waiting period. Not before a time-out or self-exclusion has ended, and usually not if the bookmaker closed it. New-customer offers normally don't apply again.
Sources
- General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Articles 15, 17 and 21
- Directive (EU) 2015/849 (anti-money laundering), Article 40 on record keeping
- ÚRHH: register of excluded persons (in Slovak)
- ÚRHH: list of licensed online operators (in Slovak)
- Austrian Data Protection Authority (Datenschutzbehörde) (in German)
As of October 2026, checked against the linked sources. Not legal, tax or betting advice.
Betting involves risk, even with sure bets: prices move, bets get voided and accounts get limited. Only use money you can do without. Our responsible gambling page lists free help.
Not betting advice. 18+. Betting involves risk. See our disclaimer.