Number of UK Gamblers Opting Out Through Gamstop on the Rise

Article by : Erik Gibbs Jan 25, 2024

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Over the 12 months ending on December 31, Gamstop witnessed a surge in registrations, with more than 92,000 players joining the self-exclusion scheme.

This marks a significant increase from the previous record of 84,000 set in 2022. Among the registrants, 55% chose the maximum exclusion period of five years, showcasing a substantial commitment to distancing themselves from gambling activities.

The alternative exclusion durations offered by Gamstop include six months and one year. Furthermore, not only did Gamstop achieve record-breaking annual figures, but it also reached a new monthly pinnacle in May, with a total of 8,591 sign-ups during that period.

In its August update covering the first half of the year, Gamstop highlighted certain trends that persisted into the second half. There was a discernible increase in the number of younger individuals enrolling in the self-exclusion scheme.

In the latter half of the year, there was a noteworthy 31% year-on-year surge in registrations from the 16-24 age group.

This demographic constituted 21% of new registrations in the six months leading to December, up from 17% in the preceding year. Since its inception in April 2018, a cumulative total of 433,357 consumers have registered with Gamstop.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of Gamstop, emphasized the ongoing year-on-year growth in registrants, underscoring the significance of self-exclusion for those grappling with gambling issues.

Palmer expressed the organization’s commitment to raising awareness about Gamstop, targeting individuals in need of self-exclusion and the friends and families of those affected by gambling.

Palmer also acknowledged the uptick in young individuals enrolling with Gamstop. She emphasized the ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the service among those aged 16-24.

The significant representation of young adults in Gamstop’s registrant base underscores the necessity of educating this demographic.

The commitment to outreach efforts targeting individuals aged 16-24 will persist throughout 2024, with a focus on collaborative initiatives with similar organizations and leveraging the support of football club partners, as expressed by Palmer.

Despite the increasing adoption of Gamstop, the service grapples with certain challenges related to illegal operators. Some unlicensed platforms strategically market themselves as non-affiliated with Gamstop, enabling registered players to persist in their gambling activities.

Yield Sec uncovered numerous Google searches aimed at facilitating the circumvention of self-exclusion, numbering in the thousands.

As of January 2024, Yield Sec identified millions of Google search results containing phrases like “not on Gamstop” and similar terms.

This situation, according to Yield Sec, leads vulnerable players to inadvertently venture into the realm of illegal and potentially hazardous operators, escaping the oversight provided by tools such as Yield Sec and Gamstop.

The risk lies in these individuals falling through a metaphorical “trap door” in their pursuit of betting opportunities.