What Is Gamstop.com?

GamStop: Self Exclusion From Online Gambling

If you feel as though you need help avoiding online gambling sites but don’t want to self exclude yourself at every gambling site online, Gamstop is probably the best solution for you. Gamstop works with all UKGC licensed operators in the UK. When you enrol yourself with Gamstop, you will self exclude yourself from all gambling sites across the board, instead of individually. It’s a one-stop-shop designed to make self-exclusion as easy as possible.

How To Register at Gamstop

Quite rightly so, it’s incredibly easy to register and self exclude yourself on Gamstop. Simply head to GamStop and provide them with details that will help them confirm your identity. You will be asked questions including what’s your postcode, date of birth and email address. 

💡 You must provide them with email addresses that you’ve used to sign up for online gaming sites. Also at this stage, you will be asked the length of time you wish to be excluded for; either 6 months, 12 months or 5 years. Applying for Gamstop should only take a few minutes, but make sure that you’re aware that it can take up to 24 hours to take effect.

What Happens Next?

After you sign up, you’ll receive an email summarising all the details of your exclusion from gambling. After 24 hours, you will be excluded from gambling with online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain. You will be excluded for a period of either 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, depending on the option you chose when you registered. It’s important to keep your details up to date by telling Gamstop if you move house, change your last name or get a new email address. It is your responsibility to ensure that the details gambling companies hold about you are correct and up to date as well.

Making A Sucess Of Gamstop

The success of Gamstop does also come down to you, even though these measures are in place which will make it tricky to gamble online at UKGC licensed casinos and gambling sites. It’s really important to mention here that the request to self-exclude on Gamstop will not automatically remove you from any gambling marketing that you may be subscribed to prior to joining Gamstop. If you do join Gamstop, then we recommend that you unsubscribe from any emails you receive from gambling companies. This means unfollowing gambling sites on social media accounts such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to minimalise the amount of gambling marketing you receive.

What Happens After Your Chosen Self Exclusion Period Is Over?

Once the minimum duration period has elapsed, your self-exclusion will remain in force until you contact Gamstop and ask for it to be removed. To do this, simply get in touch and you’ll be prompted to go through the relevant process.

Other Gambling Support & Self Exclusion Schemes

Gamstop works to protect consumers who gamble online. However, there are other self-exclusion schemes designed to help those who gamble offline, including bingo halls, lottery and scratchcard gambling, and land-based bookmakers. Visit Gamstops support pages for full details.

The scheme also provides great expertise of help on their website which covers other areas of problem gambling. Other helpful areas include debt advice, emotional support and also practical support, and assistance with technical things like adblocker and other gambling blocking software that you can install on your desktop and mobile sites. These add-ons are very helpful if you want to block gambling ads. Check out their support pages below for full details.

Casinos Not On Gamstop

It’s been reported in the UK press that there have been some loopholes that have been exploited by some consumers who have tried to get around Gamstop and those who are looking for casinos, not on Gamstop. This is a very stark reminder of why it’s very important to remember responsible gambling at all times and why, if you feel you have a problem gambling, to seek help immediately.

By registering and self-excluding yourself on Gamstop, you will manage to exclude yourself from all UK gambling sites that are members of Gamstop only. Unfortunately, there is a slight loophole as not all gambling sites you will be able to access online are part of the Gamstop scheme. It’s important to know that all UK Gambling Commission licensed casinos are members of the Gamstop self-exclusion scheme.

However, unfortunately, there are other gambling licenses in offshore jurisdictions that don’t need to enrol in the scheme as they don’t operate in the UK and aren’t forced to join Gamstop. But, they still accept UK player registrations. These are called casinos not on Gamstop. This is somewhat a grey area of UK online gambling. If you are a UK-based player, we do not recommend casinos that the UKGC does not license. Offshore casinos aren’t as safe as gambling at UK-licenced sites and will not offer measures to help you stay in control like UKGC-licensed gambling sites will.

💡 We do not recommend gambling sites that are not part of the Gamstop Self Exclusion Scheme.

Contact Gamstop & Get Help

• Website: https://www.gamstop.co.uk/
• Address: 3 Greengate, Cardale Park, Harrogate, HG3 1GY
• Legal name: The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited
• Telephone: (UK) 0800 1386518
• E-mail Support: [email protected]
• Self-exclusion duration periods: 6 months, 12 months & 5 years.

Cancelling Gamstop

You can’t cancel Gamstop before your self-exclusive period is over. Therefore, at any time after your minimum exclusion period is completed, you can contact the GAMSTOP Contact Centre and instruct them to deactivate your self-exclusion entirely so you are free to join UK gambling sites. At this time, you will also have the choice to extend your self-exclusion for a further period of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.