Does Gamstop Cover Offline Venues?

GamStop provides its services in the UK and operates towards restricting a player’s accessibility from online gambling, primarily through self-exclusi

17:26 23 December 2020

If a player feels positive towards taking a break from the UK based online sportsbooks and gambling habits, then every legitimate casino and betting sites would offer their self-exclusion options run by Gamstop. 

 

This basically indicates that one can choose to lock himself out of online gambling for a period of either 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years depending on their concerns. Instead of providing individual exclusion from certain sites, they restrict accessing all UKGC licensed online casinos. 

 

However, Gamstop is applicable only for gambling platforms registered with UKGC. Therefore, players enrolled under the self-exclusion could avail offshore licensed sites operating under international offshore licenses such as Malta Gaming Authority, Gambling Commission of Great Britain, Government of Gibraltar, etc. The range of casinos with such offshore licenses offer a range of bonuses, multipliers, free spins, jackpots, and an amazing collection of games from top-notch providers such as Microgaming, IGT, Merkur, Playtech, Euro Games Technology, VistaGaming, Amuzi, Arrows, and so on. Also, Gamstop is not applicable for brick and mortar casinos and the UK players are free to access them.

 

Non-Gamstop Offshore Sites 

 

Non-Gamstop betting sites can be trustworthy and safe if chosen correctly. (depending on the offshore license it holds). 

 

• These platforms offer deposit bonuses upto 500% on minimum wager requirements. Some casinos offer free spins, in-game bonuses too. 
  
  
• Offshore casinos have multiple payment options such as Visa, MasterCard, Skrill, PerfectMoney, Bitcoin, Neteller, ecoPayz, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Web Money. 
  
  
• Popular software providers such as PlayNgo, NetEnt, QuickSpin, Novomatic, Playtech, Mega Jack, etc are associated with these offshore sites. 
  
  
• Games such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, live games are most commonly available in these casinos. 

 

Since participation in the Gamstop scheme is not mandatory for all UK punters, they can keep enjoying casino services without restriction. During the last couple of years many reputable British betting companies not with GamStop attracted plenty of players. Those sites are just as credible and secured as the others, the only difference between those sites and local ones is license. Gamstop does not stretch overseas, as it focuses solely on the British aspect of gambling. 

 

The Concepts of Offline Self-Exclusion Schemes

 

The concept of Gamstop was first launched in 2018 by the UKGC. All licensed casinos need to have and practice their own self-exclusion schemes to promote safe gambling practices. It is a voluntary ban option, unlike the ones that casinos initiate to exclude problem, unruly gamblers, cheaters, or criminals. 

 

Similar to online casinos, most offline casinos also advertise their self-exclusion schemes on their website for the people to sign up by filling an application and attaching their photograph for further use. These schemes may individually apply to one casino or multiple ones depending on the coordination of the venues. Over 173 online UK casinos are registered with Gamstop.

 

Offline Self Exclusion Schemes - MOSES, SENSE, and NCF

 

The Multi-Operator Self Exclusion Scheme or MOSES allows players to self exclude themselves from betting shops. This scheme is customized according to the person’s requirements and habits. The registration for this scheme is via a telephone conversation where the staff cater to all the needs of a customer and customize an exclusion. This helps in self excluding from multiple operators and betting casinos. 

 

The Self-Enrollment National Self-Exclusion Scheme or SENSE allows people to voluntarily enroll and exclude themselves from the land-based casinos in the UK after realizing that they have a problem with gambling or the need to take a break. This scheme is administered by the National Casino Forum (NCF). It controls the processing of the personal information of all customers. Casinos participating in this scheme should cease to send any gambling-related advertisements or promotional material to the customer who has signed up for self-exclusion with SENSE. This scheme has a minimum time period of 6 months and can be extended or stopped after the minimum period of time. 

 

Self Exclusion Via Bingo Association and BISES

 

The bingo industry works on its commitment towards helping problem gamblers who face difficulties in managing their gambling habits in the UK. To assist the punters, the licensed bingo industry offers a voluntary self-exclusion scheme. It enables them to get excluded from all land-based licensed bingo premises in the UK. This scheme exclusively caters to brick and mortar casinos only and requires its customers to fill an application form. 

 

Along with it, a digital image of themselves is required for identification. These details are then added to the Bingo Industry Self Exclusion Scheme or BISES, which is a secured national database for storing the information of the customers. An interview is conducted to understand the particular problems one is facing. Catering to that, their scheme is designed. 

 

Conclusion 

 

Self Exclusion is a choice that one has to make. Schemes like MOSES, SENSE, NCF have developed in the UK to help people cope with addictive gambling habits offline as well. The aim is to promote safe and healthy gambling. The minimum self-exclusion period cannot be dodged upon after confirmation. These schemes solely operate with the motto of helping the problem gamblers overcome their addiction. 

Author: Paul Hayward is a gambling expert from the United Kingdom. He has a PhD in Economic Science from Oxford University. Paul, with his vast experience in iGaming industry, administrates a couple of websites and writes articles that help thousands of punters understand what to use gambling sites.