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March 2023 saw more than 8,500 registrations, an increase of 24% year-over-year
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GAMSTOP celebrates its fifth anniversary with a surge in activity
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Independent evaluation supports lifetime exclusion option
GAMSTOP is the UK’s independent self-exclusion online scheme. In March, it recorded 8,504 registrations, which was its highest number in a month and an increase of 24% on a year-on-year basis.
This unprecedented increase in self-exclusions coincides with the five-year anniversary of GAMSTOP. In April 2018, the service was launched and by March 2020, it became a condition of licensing for all UK operators.
GAMSTOP has registered more than 365,000 users since its launch in March 2000. They have chosen to be excluded from all UK operators either for six months, one year, or five years. Nearly 330,000 people are still not included.
Self-exclusions are likely to have increased due to the Cheltenham Festival. The festival, which ran from 12-15 March, attracted hundreds of millions in bets. The days immediately following the festival were the most popular for registrations.
GAMSTOP recently hired independent research agency Sonnet to interview a small sample of its users. This was in response to a comprehensive evaluation in 2021 that showed 84% of registered users felt safer and in greater control over their gambling.
Interviewees stated that GAMSTOP was a safety net, and that knowing there was an exclusion in place helped them recover because it made feel safer. Many people wanted the option of lifetime exclusion, as they felt that it would signal the seriousness and addiction of gambling, like alcohol or drugs. It also helped to remove the social stigma.
Fiona Palmer Fiona Palmer is the CEO of GAMSTOP. She said:
“Our latest data show that GAMSTOP, five years after its inception, is providing an increasing service to vulnerable consumers who wish to take a rest from gambling. We cannot undervalue the need for a program like GAMSTOP. We must continue to spread the word about GAMSTOP to ensure that everyone who needs our services knows of us. It is important that we continue to listen and adapt the scheme according to their needs.
GAMSTOP registered Jack Scottspoke on the impact GAMSTOP had on his life.
“I joined GAMSTOP December 2020, and it has had a life-changing impact. Before signing up with GAMSTOP I had a long-term addiction to online gaming that saw me gambling away an enormous amount of money.
Since then, GAMSTOP has allowed me to focus on my true passion, ultrarunning. I wouldn’t be able do this without GAMSTOP.
“I encourage anyone who believes that they may be suffering from gambling-related issues to research GAMSTOP, or to take advantage the TalkBanStop Partnership, which combines the self-exclusion software with bank blocks, and the support you need through Gamcare”.
