What is Gamstop? – System explained

Oliver Thompson
August 1, 2024
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What is Gamstop

Everyone who has ever had anything to do with online gambling has heard of GamStop, the UK’s player-exclusion system employed in every UK-based online casino and betting site. It is a specially created self-exclusion scheme that prevents UK players from British online casinos and gambling establishments for a given period of time. On one hand, GamStop is a safeguarding feature that could potentially help players avoid gambling-related addictions by limiting their access to UKGC-licensed online casinos. However, on the other hand, it is known for its harsh restrictions, limitations, and regulations. That’s exactly why, more often than not, UK players seek non-GamStop alternatives when it comes to online gaming.

If a player has registered for GamStop’s self-exclusion services, there’s no way they can undo it by canceling their subscription. However, there’s still a way to avoid GamStop and continue online gaming outside of the UKGC and GamStop’s jurisdictions, and this website is here to teach you how.

Although, we should also mention that sometimes GamStop can be a helpful tool. For example, if you ever think that you may have a gambling problem or even an addiction, you can use GamStop to your advantage. You can self-exclude from online gambling-related activities for a certain period of time until you can get your behavior under control.

With that said, let’s find out even more about what exactly GamStop is and how it works.

How does GamStop work for UK players

When you sign up for GamStop’s self-exclusion services, you’ll need to provide them with a bunch of information about yourself. GamStop uses this info to prevent you from signing up or logging into any gambling websites, online casinos, and betting sites. And once you’re in GamStop, you can’t just cancel it whenever you want. You have to wait until the time period you chose when you signed up has passed.

Here’s something important to know: even if you’re in GamStop, you might still receive emails and other notifications from the gambling sites you used before. If you want to stop receiving those, just let the company know you want to take a break from gambling. You can do this by trying to log into your account. They’ll stop sending you stuff, and they might even freeze your account or refund any money you have in there.

How can you self-exclude from online gambling through GamStop?

Once you’ve made a final decision that you certainly want to exclude yourself from online gambling, you need to go through a comprehensive registration process on GamStop’s official website. As mentioned above, you need to provide as much detailed information about yourself as possible. For example, in the registration form, you need to enter everything from your name/last name, contact information to not only your current email address but also every email address you’ve ever used for gambling purposes. Other required information in the form is as follows:

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Current and previously used phone number
  • Residential address
  • Postcode

How long does GamStop’s self-exclusion last? Well, after you are done registering for its services, you can choose from these initial periods of self-exclusion:

  • 6 months
  • 1 year
  • 5 years

After choosing your desired period of self-exclusion, you’ll be asked a few questions about yourself to verify the data you’ve entered in the registration form. Once you have successfully completed all these steps, all you have to do is wait about 24 hours and voilà! You are officially excluded from any and every online gambling activity in the UKGC-licensed and regulated online casinos, gambling establishments, and betting sites. You won’t be able to access those until your initial self-exclusion period has lapsed, so make sure to weigh all your options. If you still decide that it’s the best option for you, go ahead, and register away!


What is GamStop and how does it work? – FAQ

  • What is GamStop and how does it work?

    GamStop is the UK’s player-exclusion system employed in every UK-based online casino and betting site. It’s a self-exclusion scheme designed to prevent UK players from accessing UK online casinos and gambling establishments for a specified period.

  • How does the self-exclusion process work?

    To self-exclude from online gambling through GamStop, players must register on the GamStop website, providing detailed personal information such as full name, date of birth, contact information, and previous email addresses used for gambling purposes. After registration, players select their desired period of self-exclusion, ranging from 6 months to 5 years.

  • Can I cancel my GamStop self-exclusion before the period ends?

    No, you cannot cancel your GamStop self-exclusion before the designated period ends. Once registered, players must wait until the chosen exclusion period lapses before they can resume gambling activities.

Author Oliver Thompson

Hello everyone! Oliver Thompson here, originally from the UK, Southampton. After graduating from California International Business University in 2015, I made a well-thought-out decision to immediately start researching eGaming industry regulations in both the EU and the USA since it was my main field of interest.