GamStop v. Gamban – The Differences and The Similarities

he debate around the UK’s gambling landscape has been as lively as a Friday night at the casino, thanks to the UKGC’s tight grip on the scene with its restrictive schemes. Two key players in this realm, GamStop and Gamban, stand out as the self-exclusion guardians. But what sets them apart, and where do their paths converge? Let’s delve into the specifics of each and uncover their differences and similarities.

What is GamStop?

GamStop is the UKGC’s self-exclusion scheme, generally employed to exclude the player from online gambling altogether. GamStop is a fundamental part of the UKGC and was initially created to assist British players to self-exclude from online gambling establishments. British players register for GamStop’s self-exclusion services and can choose exclusion periods independently. These periods could be 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years. Additionally, GamStop requires all UKGC-licensed gambling businesses to check if their customers are registered on GamStop; therefore, self-excluded.

What is Gamban?

Gamban, on the other hand, is a mobile app that helps players block online gambling on their mobile devices for good. Once downloaded on a mobile device, Gamban services are activated, and all gambling-related websites, online casinos, betting sites, and mobile casinos such as bet365 cannot be accessed from that device. Using the Gamban app is another way of self-restricting from online gaming.

GamStop VS Gamban

The main difference between these two is quite simple and straightforward – GamStop is a self-exclusion scheme, a mandatory part of the UKGC – UK’s gambling governing body. Gamban is an application generally employed to block a mobile device from accessing gambling establishments. The UKGC requires all its licensed operators to be part of GamStop, while Gamban is on itself. It’s neither mandatory nor an essential part of the UKGC, like GamStop.

Another major difference between these two is that GamStop services are completely free, as this scheme is a part of the local regulator. However, since Gamban is a mobile app, its services aren’t free. There’s a 7-day free trial for Gamban, but after that, a user who downloads Gamban on their mobile device should pay a monthly fee (carefully read Gamban’s terms and conditions before deciding to commit).

Finally, one of the biggest similarities between Gamban and GamStop is that GamStop’s services cannot be canceled, just as you can never delete or cancel Gamban from your phone. Once you register yourself for GamStop’s self-exclusion period, you are banned from all UKGC-licensed UK operators, and there’s no way you can cancel your exclusion until the initial period is over. Same with Gamban, if you use Gamban on your mobile device, restricting yourself from accessing online gambling, it would be nothing short of impossible to get out of Gamban’s restrictions.

Conclusion

Despite their noble intentions, both GamStop and Gamban can feel like party crashers to those just looking for a bit of fun. Not everyone at the casino table is battling addiction; sometimes, it’s all about enjoying the game. Thankfully, we’ve got your back. If you’re seeking ways to keep the game going, check out our strategic guides on How to Choose the Best non-Gamban Casinos and What Is Gamban and How Exactly Does It Work? for tips on navigating the waters of self-exclusion.