GamStop is a player exclusion scheme in the UK designed to help gamblers self-exclude from online gambling. It is a part of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), the main gambling regulator in the UK. Once a player registers for self-exclusion through GamStop, they are denied access to all UKGC-licensed online gambling services for a period they choose, ranging from 6 months to 5 years.

Why would someone want to avoid GamStop?

Individuals might want to avoid GamStop to escape the strict rules and regulations of the UKGC, bypass the ban on using credit cards for gambling, avoid the complicated KYC process required by UKGC-licensed casinos, and dodge the lengthy self-exclusion periods that GamStop imposes, which can be as long as 5 years.

Can I end my self-exclusion from GamStop early?

No, once you register for GamStop's services and choose a self-exclusion period, it is impossible to end the self-exclusion earlier than the chosen period, which can be 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.

What are the reasons to avoid GamStop according to the text?

The text lists several reasons to avoid GamStop, including avoiding strict UKGC rules, the inability to pay with credit cards at UKGC-licensed casinos, the complicated and lengthy KYC process at these casinos, and the inflexible, long self-exclusion periods enforced by GamStop.

What is Gamban, and how is it different from GamStop?

Gamban is a mobile app that blocks access to online gambling sites and is different from GamStop. While both are self-restriction schemes for UK players to prevent access to online gambling, Gamban operates by being installed on a mobile device and blocks access to gambling sites directly, unlike GamStop, which requires casinos to block registered users. Gamban is not free, and its services last until the user decides to remove the app.

Why are UKGC-licensed casinos required to comply with GamStop?

UKGC-licensed casinos are required to comply with GamStop because it is part of the UKGC's regulatory framework to promote responsible gambling. The scheme is intended to provide a tool for individuals seeking help to manage their gambling habits by self-excluding from all online gambling activities in the UK.

Is it possible to gamble online if I am registered with GamStop?

If you are registered with GamStop and during your chosen self-exclusion period, you will not be able to access UKGC-licensed online gambling services. However, the text suggests that individuals might look for ways to bypass these restrictions, indicating that some seek alternatives outside the scope of UKGC-licensed operators.

Why Everyone Should Avoid GamStop

Oliver Thompson

Non GamStop Casinos Blog

March 5, 2024

764 Views

Everyone who’s ever been restricted or limited by anything knows just how annoying it can be. Whether you are limited in your daily activities, working, or even online gambling, the only thing you think about is how to bypass restrictions, how to find loopholes, or even how to get around these limitations. One of the best examples of annoying restrictions is GamStop – UK’s player exclusion scheme, which forces punters to self-exclude from online gambling for long periods of time. No matter the joining reason, once you are a part of GamStop’s scheme, you are denied access to UK-based gambling establishments and betting websites for a period of 6 months, 1 year, or even 5 years.

Let me briefly tell you what exactly is GamStop and how it works. GamStop is a fundamental part of the UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission), the UK’s main gambling regulator, and all it does is restrict British gamblers from online gambling, primarily through self-exclusion. Once a British player registers on GamStop and starts their self-exclusion, they are denied access to any and all online gambling services for their chosen periods. These services refer to UKGC-licensed online operators, such as online casinos, betting sites, mobile casinos, etc.

GamStop has been around for years, making it impossible for British players to end their self-exclusions earlier than their original set periods; therefore, British players are eager, sometimes even desperate, to escape the punitive nature of GamStop’s self-exclusion and find ways to continue enjoying their favorite online activities.

We believe that gamblers who regret joining GamStop and want to continue their gaming journey should be able to do so; therefore, make sure to keep on reading this article to learn about the reasons why everyone should avoid GamStop.

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Reasons to Avoid GamStop

Since GamStop is a restrictive exclusion scheme by nature, the reasons to avoid it can be countless. Nobody wants to be systematically limited by anything, especially when that restriction directly interferes with your interests and hobbies. However, among these countless reasons, there are major, the most important ones, and they are as follow:

Avoid Strict UKGC Rules and Regulations

GamStop doesn’t exist by itself; it’s a part of the much stricter regulator – the UKGC – UK’s gambling governing body. The UKGC is known to be one of the strictest, most demanding gambling regulators in the modern gaming industry; therefore, all its licensed casinos should adhere to its rules at all times. Meaning that playing at UKGC-licensed casinos does come with a list of directives and orders you’d have to obey.

You Can’t Pay with Credit Cards

Granted, this one isn’t directly connected to GamStop; nevertheless, the UKGC infamously banned paying with Credit Cards in its licensee casinos. Therefore, even if you are not self-excluded by GamStop and decide to play at the UKGC-licensed casino, you can’t pay with credit cards, which could be a huge disadvantage since credit cards are one of the most famous online gambling payment methods.

Avoid Complicated KYC Process

All GamStop casinos (casinos licensed by the UKGC) come with a mandatory and quite complicated KYC process, without which a player cannot start playing in the UKGC-licensed casino. The KYC process identifies and verifies a player’s identity when creating an account in the GamStop casino, and it could potentially take days or even weeks to be finalized and confirmed from the casino’s side.

Self-Exclusion Period

There are numerous self-exclusion schemes, systems, and mobile apps on the gambling market, but GamStop is known to be one of the strictest and most punitive self-exclusion tools due to its long exclusion periods. Mind you, once you register for GamStop’s services, it’s impossible to end the services earlier than 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.

What is Gamban? Is it like GamStop?

Some may think that Gamban is just another word for GamStop, since these two sort of sound alike, wouldn’t you agree? However, Gamban is not GamStop and serves a different purpose. Granted, both of these are self-restricting schemes forbidding access to online gambling for UK players, but they differ from each other.

Gamban is a mobile app that will block your access to online gambling sites when you install it on your mobile device. Using Gamban is yet another way of self-restricting from online gaming, and unlike GamStop, its services are not free. Once you download Gamban on your mobile device and install it, you will be blocked from accessing any and every online casino and betting site until you decide it’s time to delete it from your mobile.

Final Thoughts?

What else can be said about GamStop and its disadvantages? Why would anyone want to be a part of such confining scheme when you don’t have to stop enjoying your online hobbies and playing your favorite games? Yes, you should always be careful, attentive, and in control of your habits, for your hobbies do not turn into addictions, but who wants to self-exclude from anything for 5 years? Nobody, no one wants that. Thus, avoiding GamStop and the complications this scheme comes with is highly advised.