Gamstop: Features & Beginner Guide to Self-Exclusion

Even though gambling is one of the most thrilling and entertaining activities out there, it can also become quite addictive.

14:46 10 August 2019

What was once a source of fun and a hobby for the player can turn into a detrimental part of one’s daily routine which affects their financial status, relationships and behaviour.

With the increase in numbers of online casino, access to gambling is now easier than ever before. Gambling addicts can truly have a problem restraining themselves from the myriad of casinos and games out there.

Luckily, there is a solution that can help these people gain back control over their gambling habit. It’s called Gamstop and it has been proven to do the trick when it comes to controlling players’ gambling budgets and playing time. In this overview, we present to you

Is Gambling Addiction Real?

Even though many people believe addiction to gambling is made-up, it is actually very much real. Players can get addicted to casino games online, just like they can in the ‘real world’. In land-based casinos, there are services that can help you exclude yourself from gambling altogether. This is the first and most important step when you want to recover from symptoms and regain control over your finances.

There are also services like this that function for online casinos, sports betting sites and poker rooms. If you feel like you have a gambling problem, you might benefit from signing up with one of these services. One of the best self-exclusion services is Gamstop.

What is Gamstop?

Gamstop is a responsible gaming service created in cooperation with UKGC that allows you to self-exclude yourself from gambling and stop playing games of luck for a certain period of time. No matter if you want to take a longer break from gambling or simply a quick cool-off period, Gamstop has many different options for gamblers.

When you feel like your gambling is getting out of control, Gamstop can help you restrain yourself. It’s a service that will ban you from signing up, depositing or playing at any of the online casinos and operators that have signed up with the service. However, in the recent article, Non Stop Casino showed UK companies not participating in Gamstop and described some vulnerability of this tool. When it comes to the UK, you can expect to be excluded from most casinos registered with the UKGC.

Does Gamstop really work?

When you sign up for Gamstop, it’s a done deal - you won’t be able to access Gamstop casinos anymore. If you’re a British player, that means the majority of UK casinos. The UK Gambling Commission requires that online casinos, poker operators and betting sites all have a responsible gaming program in order to be licensed.

So, if a player wants to play casino games after registering with Gamstop, they will have to go sign up with a foreign casino without a UKGC license. Even though this may enable them to play, it will also leave you out of the security provided by playing in a UKGC-licensed casino. 

How to exclude yourself from gambling with Gamstop?

Signing up with Gamstop is very easy and simple and you can expect to be done within just a couple of minutes. Self-exclusion with Gamstop is free. You will need to enter the registration section and provide a couple of basic details about yourself. Then, you will have to provide proof of your identity in order to prove that it’s really you. After that, you can choose the terms and conditions of your self-exclusion scheme.

In order to register for Gamstop, you need to be from the UK or Ireland. If you’re from another country, you can use another service for self-exclusion that covers international players.