What Is GamStop?

What Is GamStop UK?

In recent years, the UK online casinos has undergone significant regulatory changes to ensure the protection of players and promote responsible gambling practices. Establishing the GamStop UK scheme was one such initiative, which casino players based in the UK can make use of to control their online gambling activity.

GamStop is a free online tool launched by the Remote Gambling Association and run by The National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme Ltd.

Essentially, it allows players to self-exclude from all UKGC gambling websites and is intended to give players more control over their hobby by providing a practical tool to ensure that they stick to the limits they have set for themselves.

When To Use GamStop

Once you’ve registered with GamStop, you will be prevented from using gambling websites and apps run by companies operating in the UK, for a duration of your choosing. This tool is intended to help limit your gambling to make sure the hobby does not become dangerous.

Over 400,000 people make use of this scheme for gambling support. If you feel like you could be particularly prone to becoming an addict or that you are spending an ever-increasing amount of time and money at the casino, it would be a good idea to implement safeguarding measures such as this sooner rather than later. As a general rule, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

How To Use GamStop

First of all, you have to register to set up an account on the GamStop website, which will enable you to make use of their services. If you encounter any difficulties while trying to sign up or need more detailed information about GamStop, assistance can be found on their website where you can find a live chat feature offering customer support in real-time.

How To Register With GamStop

It is quick, simple and free to register with GamStop. In a few minutes, you can sign up by providing your personal details through their website. This usually involves your postcode, date of birth and email address.

The site will then confirm your identity, in a process which may take as long as 24 hours to take effect, and then your account will become active. It is important to regularly update your personal details to ensure that GamStop has the correct information about you, and provide any and all email addresses you have been using to register with online casinos.

To update your information, sign in to your account on the GamStop website and make the necessary changes there.

How Long Will GamStop Work For?

Once you’ve registered with GamStop, you won’t be able to access any gambling sites. During registration, you can choose how long the self-exclusion period should last. You will be provided with three options:

• Six months
• 1 year
• 5 years

After the exclusion period is over, you will be able to access UK gambling sites again. However, you need to call GamStop and ask for it to be removed. If not, your exclusion will continue indefinitely.

Registering with GamStop will also remove you from gambling sites’ marketing databases so that the casinos will no longer be able to communicate offers or notifications to you.

How To Unregister From GamStop

It is important to make this decision carefully since once you have signed up, the process cannot be reversed until the chosen duration has elapsed.

After this period is over, you will not be automatically unregistered from the scheme, but you are required to inform GamStop that you would like to leave the scheme in order to regain access to your accounts at the online casino sites. You can do this by calling them free on 0800 138 6518.

Using GamStop vs. Casinos’ Self-Exclusion Features

Self-exclusion from a specific casino can be a great step if you want to gamble more responsibly and you feel a specific casino is a frequent cause of temptation. This can be due to frequent advertising, bonus offers or other reasons.

Registering with GamStop will immediately block your access to all UK-licensed online casino sites, including those you have played at before and hold an account with, as well as those you have never visited.

One major advantage of this is that it ensures that you do not need to make the decision to self-exclude repeatedly. This makes the action easier to implement and harder to bypass if the temptation arises, providing a stronger safeguard against addiction. For this reason, it is important to always choose to play at casinos that support GamStop. For more info, check our guide on why you should not choose UK casinos not on GamStop, as this better covers the dangers of doing so.

How To Find a GamStop Casino

Unfortunately, the effectiveness of the GamStop scheme is limited to the UK. It allows only UK nationals to register and will restrict access to all online casinos registered in the UK.

All legitimate casinos operating in the UK are legally obliged to be registered with GamStop by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This means that any sites that do not support GamStop are operating illegally, and this should be avoided completely. The legitimacy of gambling sites can usually be checked quite easily by looking for an appropriate certification by the relevant gambling authority. This is usually very clearly displayed at the bottom of every page of their website.

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