GAMSTOP: Your Guide to Responsible Gambling in the UK

For those who are struggling with gambling problems or believe their behaviour across online casinos may be straying into the irresponsible, GAMSTOP is an online self-exclusion scheme that can be helpful in reducing the risks around problem gambling. The aim is to allow players to prevent and overcome their gambling issues. GAMSTOP is available across all UKGC-licensed gambling websites. So, if you are struggling to control your gambling habits and need some assistance with it, here’s all you need to know about GAMSTOP!

What is GAMSTOP?

A first port of call is naturally to understand what GAMSTOP is and what it does. Over 400,000 people have used the tool to try and control their gambling problems, with statistics showing that 84% of people feel safer as a result of implementing the tool. Essentially, what GAMSTOP does is provide people with a service that allows them to restrict their activity across all UK-licensed gambling platforms, preventing them from being able to place any bets.

What GAMSTOP does:

When using the GAMSTOP service, the tool will:

• Prevent you from being able to log in to any pre-existing gambling accounts
• Prevent you from registering with any casinos or betting sites
• Automatically take you off any gambling companies’ mailing lists

How Does GAMSTOP Work?

GAMSTOP essentially acts as a centralised self-exclusion database. Registering with the service effectively blocks you from being able to register or log in with any online gambling operators licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. To register with GAMSTOP, you are required to fill out a series of information about yourself, from name to address, date of birth and beyond, as well as how long you’d like to exclude yourself. This can be either six months, one year or five years. Once this has been registered, you cannot remove the exclusion until that period has been completed. In order for this to then be effective, casino sites cross reference information with GAMSTOP with every registration on its site, blocking any user whose details are found on the GAMSTOP database.

How to Register With GAMSTOP

If that sounds like something that might be helpful in managing your gambling and any irresponsible betting, getting set up and registering with GAMSTOP is a relatively simple process. This process consists of:

1. Head to the GAMSTOP website and select register

You can find the GAMSTOP registration form at gamstop.co.uk/register. Alternatively, visit the homepage and select Register from the top toolbar. You should then read all the information provided before selecting Start at the foot of the page.

2. Filling out the registration form

Once you’ve clicked or tapped Start, you will then be required to fill in your personal details. This begins with your email address and verifying that through an email from GAMSTOP which is sent to you. You are then required to fill out the following:

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Phone number
• Email address
• Postal address

3. Select the minimum time you want to self-exclude for

At the end of the registration form, you’ll then need to select the minimum amount of time you’d like to be excluded for. This can be either six months, one year or five years. This cannot be undone once the registration is complete.

4. Accept the terms and conditions of GAMSTOP

The next step in the process is to accept the terms associated with GAMSTOP, understanding that:

• you will be excluded from gambling with online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain
• you cannot cancel your self-exclusion before the end of your minimum exclusion period
• you cannot shorten your minimum exclusion period

4. Verify your information with photo ID

In order to complete the registration process, you will need to confirm the details you have entered through photo ID. This can be done through a valid UK driver’s licence. During this process, you will also be asked to take a selfie using your phone’s camera. If you do not have a driving licence you will be asked a series of questions based on your credit file.

5. Confirm your registration

Once you complete the registration process, you will be sent an email with a temporary password. This will allow you to log in to your GAMSTOP account and view your details anytime. The process usually takes up to 24 hours for your self-exclusion to be active.

When to Think About Using GAMSTOP

As casino players or sports bettors, we should be continually reviewing our relationship with gambling, to keep it controlled. It’s an important aspect of ensuring we gamble responsibly and don’t let what should be a pastime affect our day-to-day lives. There are many reasons why you may want to start considering registering with GAMSTOP, with usually several tell-tale signs that your gambling may be becoming problematic, including:

• You’re spending beyond your means on gambling.
• You’re struggling to pay day-to-day expenditures, including bills, as a result of gambling.
• You think about gambling on a regular basis.
• You don’t know when to stop gambling.
• You suffer from loss of control and cannot manage impulsive urges to gamble.
• You’re increasing the amount you’re gambling to try and recoup losses.
• Your gambling is having a negative effect on relationships.
• Your mental or physical health is suffering as a result of gambling.
• You are seeking professional support for gambling addiction.

Why KingCasinoBonus Recommends Using GAMSTOP

Ultimately, at KingCasinoBonus, we want all our players to gamble responsibly. GAMSTOP has proven to keep players safe. The stats don’t lie, with 82% of GAMSTOP users either completely giving up gambling or reducing the amount they do after the self-exclusion period. The service allows players to take control of their gambling, whether that be a result of problematic gambling or a conscious effort to try and limit how much they are playing. It’s one of the stricter measures and can be used as a last point of call if the many responsible gambling measures found on casino sites aren’t working for you, such as limit setting. We also believe that GAMSTOP can be a powerful tool for British parents who want to prevent their children from gambling underage.

Making the Most of GAMSTOP and Self-Exclusion

For those wishing to use GAMSTOP, there are some considerations to make in order to get the most from it.

Be honest with yourself

First and foremost, it’s vital that you are honest with yourself. The whole process is about benefiting you moving forward, so be honest in the registration process, particularly when it comes to choosing the right self-exclusion time. This will allow you to make the right decisions for you, as well as the information on the GAMSTOP database being more accurate.

Seek additional support if you need it

Ultimately, gambling addiction isn’t going to be properly managed and maintained only by GAMSTOP. While GAMSTOP can prevent you from being able to play online, addiction can often require professional support. This could be through counselling, support groups or rehabilitation centres, all of which can provide you with the tools to develop coping mechanisms for cravings, trigger points and more, all of which can lead to gambling. Use GAMSTOP as a preventative method and a platform from which you can build rather than the total solution if you believe you may have a problem with gambling.

The Limitations of GAMSTOP

While GAMSTOP is an incredibly effective way of preventing gambling online, the tool has some limitations that our KingCasinoBonus.uk team will detail.

It doesn’t prevent gambling offline

Most notably, GAMSTOP is only a preventative tool for gambling online. Therefore, you won’t be stopped walking into a casino or betting shop and placing a bet. This is where further support, such as the methods mentioned above, is likely to be required.

You cannot remove your self-exclusion

In order to protect vulnerable players, once a self-exclusion is in place it cannot be removed. At the same time, this is largely a good thing if a player has accidentally self-excluded or perhaps done so hastily.

It isn’t a cure for addiction

Finally, we must re-emphasise that GAMSTOP isn’t a cure for gambling addiction. In fact, there is no cure for addiction. It is a preventative method, but in most cases, those living with gambling addiction will need further support from helpful organisations like the Primary Care Gambling Service or GamCare in order to enter recovery effectively.