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Lords Event hosted by a peer who advocated the first multi-operator exclusion
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Since its launch in April 2018, GAMSTOP has registered over 380,000 users
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The month of May 2023 saw a record number of registrations. It surpassed the previous month, March 2023
The UK’s independent self-exclusion online gambling scheme GAMSTOP was celebrated at Westminster by a group of politicians, regulators and gambling charities, as well as those who have lived the experience.
Lord Browne, of Belmont, hosted the event on June 14th. He was the first to advocate a national self-exclusion gambling scheme. Former gamblers also spoke of how GAMSTOP helped them overcome their addictions.
GAMSTOP launched in April 2008 and became a licensing requirement for all UK operators two years later. They also had to operate their own self exclusion schemes. Since its launch, more than 380,000 people registered with GAMSTOP, choosing to exempt themselves from all UK operators either for six months, one year, or five years.
The last month was the busiest for GAMSTOP ever. A record 8,594 consumers registered to use the service. This is 90 more than the previous record set in March 2023.
Recent interviews conducted by independent research agency Sonnet revealed that GAMSTOP was a valuable safety net, and that self-exclusion helped their recovery. Former gamblers shared their stories in a video at the House of Lords’ reception.
Stacey Goodwin from Chesterfield is recovering after an eight-year drug addiction.
“GAMSTOP played a vital role in my recovery. I’ve received a lot comments about my recovery, such as “you’re strong”, but I don’t feel like that. GAMSTOP has always been my go-to tool when I’m not feeling well.
Matt Blanks who started gambling when he was 11 years old and lost approximately PS700,000.
It is not just a lifeline for me but also for many others who are struggling with gambling addiction. It allows you to reflect on your gambling and removes the temptation.
Jack Scott has overcome his gambling habit to become an endurance runner.
“GAMSTOP broke through the roadblock. I was sick of who I had become. Why not use a tool such as GAMSTOP to promote yourself being the best version of yourself?
Fiona Palmer Fiona Palmer is the CEO of GAMSTOP. She told guests:
We are always looking for ways to improve our customers’ experience. GAMSTOP is committed to providing a safe and secure exclusion for online gambling. We also want to improve the consumer journeys, both to enable them to easily exclude themselves from gambling in general, not just online. And to ensure that they receive effective signposting to further treatment and support if they wish.
Professor Henrietta Bowden Jones OBE,National clinical advisor on gambling harms for NHS, spoke at the event and said that the UK is leading the way in self-exclusion. She called for more work to be done on land-based self-exclusion. She said:
“We fight tech with tech.” Self-exclusion is frustrating for patients because they can’t beat it. Those who are left with no other option return to the bookmakers. Cashback from Tesco is being used to bypass bank restrictions. It is important to stop people from entering bookmakers through a national scheme.
