Most British gamblers have heard about it, but what is GamStop exactly? In short, it’s a national self-exclusion program that is entirely free to use, designed to help UK players safely exit local gambling services and lose the option to sign up at UKGC-regulated sites throughout the duration of the exclusion.
GamStop was established in 2018 by the Remote Gambling Association and is managed by a not-for-profit organisation called The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited.
The purpose of GamStop is to help registered members stay away from gambling services. As of 2020, full integration with GamStop became a UKGC licence condition for all casinos, bookmakers, bingo, and poker betting websites. This means that they must fully vet all new players and never allow any GamStop-registered users to use their gambling sites.
How to Register for GamStop
If you’re wondering how to register with GamStop, we’ve prepared a small step-by-step guide to show you how to set up your GamStop login credentials:
- Visit GamStop Online
Simply Google search for GamStop UK, or follow this secure link to access GamStop’s website.
- Provide your email address
The pop-up window recommends using a private email address for extra confidentiality. Type your email in the corresponding field, read GamStop’s Privacy Policy, and tap Next when you’re ready to continue.
- Check your inbox
GamStop will send you an email verification link. Check your All Mail, Spam, and other folders in case you can’t find it right away. If the email never arrived, tap “Try Again” to re-send it.
- Provide accurate personal details
It’s crucial to use your real name, date of birth, and other information, as you’ll have to verify it in a minute. Fill out the fields with your name, date of birth, and address, then tap Next.
- Choose the Minimum Exclusion Period
You’ll be provided with multiple self-exclusion options, including 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, and 5 years with auto-renewal. Tick the option you wish to use and tap Next.
- Confirm Your GamStop account details
The next window will display all the information you’ve provided throughout the registration procedure. If you spot any typos, select “Edit.” Otherwise, select Continue to move on. A soft GamStop credit check will be required shortly for user verification.
- Read GamStop Online’s Terms
On this page, you’ll see links to GamStop’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and a few consent boxes. Read all the clauses carefully and click all the fields to accept the terms, then tap Continue.
- Verify your identity
The next screen will ask if you have a UK photocard driving licence and whether you consent for GamStop to use facial recognition to verify your ID. Follow the Photo Guidance tips in the next window, and prepare the required documentation.
- Optionally, provide feedback
This step is mostly for GamStop’s statistics, but if you have a minute, tell the platform how you heard about it by choosing from a list of options.
Having completed all these steps, you’ll enter GamStop’s self-exclusion scheme. If you need more help with problem gambling support UK, read the Further Support section or use GamStop’s live chat to talk to a professional.
What Happens After You Register
The effects of registering at BetStop affect your existing accounts at UKGC-licensed casinos and prevent operators from accepting you as a new member. Here’s a simple rundown of what happens once you’re in:
- No new deposits: All UKGC online casinos you’re a member of won’t accept your new deposits.
- Balance refund: By default, deposits at UKGC online casinos are non-refundable. However, once you’ve registered with GamStop, British casinos will have to return your remaining balance to the payment method you’ve been using so far, usually within 5 business days.
- No new registrations: You won’t be able to register at any UK online casino for the duration of your GamStop exclusion. For example, if you selected the GamStop 6 months option, you’ll be blocked from all UKGC-regulated gambling platforms for at least 6 months (plus 24 hours that are required after manual opt-out).
- Marketing block: Any gambling-related subscriptions you have will be cancelled once gambling operators receive GamStop’s notification of your registration.
GamStop Exclusion Periods Explained
There are essentially 4 GamStop self-exclusion options: 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, and 5 years with auto-renewal. Once chosen, the option becomes active and final; you can’t shorten a self-exclusion period or cancel it. Similarly, don’t assume you can upgrade from a short- to long-term exclusion plan; you can contact GamStop’s support to learn more.
What GamStop Does and Doesn’t Cover
The GamStop coverage begins and ends with UK gambling sites. Casinos, bookmakers, crypto gaming sites, and poker rooms that aren’t licensed in the United Kingdom fall outside of GamStop’s scheme, but if you want to dramatically reduce your exposure to local casinos, simply registering at GamStop would be a great start.
Since 2024, GamStop self-exclusions also extend to sites that accept bets from emails and phones. On a side note, GamStop Betting Shops is a separate entity designed as a “multi-operator self-exclusion scheme” squarely focused on land-based sportsbooks. You are not in GamStop Betting Shops when you register at GamStop Online, or vice versa.
A Real Limitation Worth Understanding
One of the main limitations of GamStop’s self exclusion casino UK service is that it’s based on the information you provide during registration. In other words, the exclusion will only trigger automatically if the name, address, and phone number you provide to UKGC-licensed casinos are the same as the details in GamStop’s registry.
Keeping your account information updated and double-checked at both GamStop and any UK casinos you’re excluded from every once in a while is a good practice for minimising inconsistencies.
How to Remove a GamStop Self-Exclusion
The GamStop removal process revolves around requesting GamStop to lift your ban from UK casinos. Even if the timer expires, the program won’t automatically let you rejoin British casinos, bookies, or poker sites – you must either contact GamStop’s team via live chat or by dialing 0800 138 6518.
Visit this page for a complete breakdown of the GamStop reactivation procedure.
GamStop vs Casino-Specific Self-Exclusion
Localised, site-specific tools like time out gambling account, and deposit limits at casinos can be useful in managing your bankroll, but they’re not designed to be as effective as GamStop’s complete exclusion from all British gambling products. Below, we’ll compare GamStop’s efficiency against casino-specific exclusion tools:
| Aspect | GamStop | Casino-Specific Self-Exclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | All gambling verticals by design. | Site-wide or product-specific, depending on the chosen option. |
| Minimum Length | 6 months | 7 days (Take-a-Break) |
| Can It Be Reversed Early? | No, lifting GamStop exclusion must be manually requested after the timer expires. | Self-exclusion is irreversible, but shorter exclusion alternatives follow less strict rules. |
| Best For | At-risk gamblers who truly wish to stop gambling. | Players who feel adversely impacted by gambling and want to reduce exposure to specific sites. |
Other Responsible Gambling Tools
Beyond being legally bound to feature full GamStop integration, all UK online casinos are also required to offer players a range of responsible gambling tools. The exact options vary, from cooling off gambling periods and site-specific temporary exclusion to permanent account closure and beyond. We’ll explain how some of these work below:
- Deposit limits let you limit how much money you can load daily, weekly, and monthly. Loss limits follow a similar logic, but shouldn’t be confused with rolling net deposit limits – the latter is dynamically configured to adapt to your current balance and newly accrued wins and losses.
- Session reminders range from simple notifications to timed lock-outs. The former displays pop-up notifications when you’ve been playing for 30 minutes, 1 hour, or more, while the latter immediately shuts down the session and logs you out of your account.
- Take-a-Break works like site-specific self-exclusion but is shorter, often lasting between a few days and a couple of weeks.
- Product-specific exclusion is a type of self-exclusion that’s limited to one type of gambling service, such as slots, live dealer games, sports, bingo, or poker (never all of them – that’s what site-wide self-exclusion is for).
- Account closure is most aligned with the core principles of GamStop. Upon the user’s request, their account may be permanently removed, and all future requests to set up a new profile will be denied.
Getting Help Beyond GamStop
It’s crucial to understand that applying to enter the GamStop exclusion scheme only restricts your access to gambling sites and products. If you wish to learn more about problem gambling, need a professional to confide in, or want to learn more about the adverse effects of gambling, consider paying these sites a visit:
FAQs
Yes, registering at GamStop and using its services is entirely free forever. This program is run by a not-for-profit organisation and is designed to help British at-risk gamblers.
No, the entire self-exclusion period must fully expire, and you must manually request a ban lift when it does if you wish to resume using UKGC-licensed casino services.
No, GamStop is solely focused on gambling sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. It does not cover offshore operators.
The operator must refund your remaining balance within a reasonable time (usually 5 days after being notified by GamStop) to a payment method you’ve used to verify your identity and/or make your deposits.
To remove your GamStop exclusion, you must contact GamStop agents via email, live chat, or by calling 0800 138 6518.
No, UKGC-regulated online casinos, bingo sites, poker rooms, and other gambling sites are required by law to unsubscribe you from their mailing lists and are forbidden from sending you promotional texts and emails.
A casino’s own self-exclusion is a site-specific tool that only applies to that particular casino. GamStop’s coverage extends to all UK-regulated gambling sites and platforms, excluding land-based betting shops (which are covered by GamStop Betting Shops, previously known as MOSES).