GamStop Self Exclusion Service for all UKGC Licensed Operators

Additionally, it welcomes new players with three great welcome offers. Launched in 2023, Blood Moon Casino is a unique independent casino. This is due to the lengthy process required to lift the ban. The issue with GamStop is that it can be difficult for users to restart gambling after they have self-excluded.

We only recommend casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Bet365 is one of the UK’s most trusted online casinos with thousands of games and a world-class live casino. GamStop does not cover physical betting shops, casinos, or amusement arcades. Many people find that the combination of GamStop (account-level exclusion), a device-level blocker, and a bank block creates robust enough friction to support recovery. You will be blocked from logging in or creating a new account at any UKGC-licensed site for the duration of your exclusion. Operators match your registration against the email addresses on your gambling accounts.

However, if you use a debit card or bank transfer to deposit at a non GamStop casino, the transactions will appear on your bank statements and could be noticed during a lending assessment. If your credit score has been damaged by gambling-related financial difficulties, registering with GamStop and stopping gambling is actually one of the best steps you can take towards financial recovery. While GamStop itself does not affect your credit score, the gambling activity that led you to register with GamStop may have had indirect effects on your credit file.

You also lose protections available through regulated payment processors when deposits are processed by unlicensed operators. UK banks may view transactions with unlicensed gambling operators unfavourably. Using these sites isn’t illegal for UK players, but the operators cannot legally market their services to British consumers. UK banks may view transactions with unlicensed gambling operators unfavourably, potentially affecting your banking relationship. UK-licensed operators must provide access to approved alternative dispute resolution services. Gibraltar-licensed operators must demonstrate financial stability and implement player protection measures, but enforcement mechanisms for UK players remain limited.

• Although the agency attempts to opt you out as soon as possible from all GAMSTOP casinos, the process can take up to 24 hours.
• You’ll need to contact each operator individually to reactivate or create new accounts.
• To regain access to online gambling, you must actively contact GamStop and request removal from the scheme.
• GamStop is just one part of a wider network of support available to UK gamblers.
• Understanding these aspects of Gamstop and self-exclusion is crucial for those considering how to bypass Gamstop or seeking ways to avoid Gamstop restrictions.

Platforms like Betfair Exchange are the best-known example, though Betfair itself is UKGC-licensed and participates in Gamstop. Instead of betting against the house, you bet against other punters. The MGA is widely considered the gold standard of European gambling regulation. Whether you agree with these regulations or not, they’ve undeniably pushed a segment of the UK gambling market offshore.

He also began working for a charity that helps other people with a gambling problem. As his mental health deteriorated – and he turned to drug use, in his words, to “numb the pain of gambling” – Ollie’s job as a business analyst and his relationship with his partner began to suffer. There is no suggestion of any failure to follow gambling licensing rules by the company. In June 2017 alone, he fed £3,000 into his account with the Stoke-based company.

This means that while many of the industry’s websites had signed up to it, not all of them had. (Usually up to five years.) It means that you won’t be physically able to play at the websites from which you have excluded yourself. The NHS offers plenty of relevant information, and lists sources of help, as well as what to do if you’re affected by someone else’s gambling. Problem gambling can be easily hidden from those around you.

Simon Reynolds, Operator Board DirectorSimon Reynolds, Operator Board Director

You can report the operator to the Gambling Commission, and the operator may face regulatory action including significant fines. There are no hidden charges or fees at any stage of the process. It is operated by the National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme Limited, a non-profit organisation funded by the gambling industry. The UK gambling regulatory environment continues to evolve. Adding previous email addresses and name variations will strengthen the cross-referencing process. Many UK banks now offer gambling transaction blocks that you can activate through your banking app.

Remember, registering with GamStop is a brave first step, but recovery involves ongoing commitment to building a life where gambling no longer controls your decisions, finances, or relationships. Michael started betting on football matches in his second year at university. Sarah, a 34-year-old teacher from Manchester, lost £23,400 over 18 months playing online slots. Some gambling companies deliberately operate without UK licenses specifically to attract GamStop users.

Your registration will not appear on any credit checks or background screenings. The scheme operates in compliance with UK data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. If an operator refuses to return your money, you can escalate the matter to the Gambling Commission. Unsettled bets placed before your registration may still be settled according to their original terms, and any resulting winnings should be paid out to you. Once active, the exclusion cannot be shortened or cancelled early regardless of your personal circumstances. After your request, there is a mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period during which you must confirm your decision.

The generous different types of casino bonuses have also become an integral part of the online casino world, with free spins being the most in-demand promotion of them all…. Plus, these non-GamStop casinos are regulated by reputable organisations non gamstop and secure, offering exciting content and generous bonuses. Non-GamStop platforms provide a larger wide range of payment options, giving players far more flexibility and convenience—and anonymity where desired. The British iGaming sector offers a variety of banking methods, but UK casinos tend to have stricter limitations.

The scheme does not cover offshore casinos, the National Lottery, or land-based gambling venues. During this time, every UKGC-licensed gambling operator is legally obligated to prevent you from opening new accounts, placing bets, or depositing money. The scheme was launched in April 2018 and has since become a mandatory requirement for all UKGC-licensed operators. Many people choose to extend their exclusion as they recognise the continued benefits of staying away from online gambling.

The GamStop registration process is intentionally straightforward. Doing so undermines the purpose of your self-exclusion and may worsen gambling-related harm. Licensed operators are required to facilitate withdrawals of your remaining funds. When you register with GamStop, any real money balance in your gambling accounts remains yours. The system also checks new account registrations against the GamStop database to prevent excluded individuals from creating fresh accounts.

Existing accounts are suspended, and any open bets or pending bonuses are settled according to the operator’s terms. It’s not a cooling-off feature or a temporary pause — it’s a structured exclusion with a minimum duration and a deliberate process for re-entry. The system isn’t voluntary for operators — participation is a licence condition, and failure to integrate with GamStop is a compliance breach that the UKGC can and does penalise. If your details match a GamStop registration, your account is suspended and you’re prevented from opening new ones. GAMSTOP is one of the simplest methods to distance yourself from gambling online and one that works well and requires a few minutes to activate. They become more advanced, bigger and offer more betting and gambling options.

This integration ensures that individuals who have self-excluded themselves through GamStop cannot access their services during the exclusion period. It promotes a safer and more responsible gambling environment, prioritising the well-being of players and encouraging a balanced approach to enjoying online gambling activities. GamStop is a free self-exclusion scheme for gamblers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, created to help players with gambling addiction by limiting their gambling activities. The UK Gambling Commission has introduced GamStop, along with new, stricter regulations for licensed gambling operators in the UK, to ensure responsible gambling in the future.

Option 4: Social Casinos

It must be emphasized that utilizing an alternative payment option or establishing a fresh account does not guarantee success in circumventing GamStop. Finally, you can also use a VPN or proxy server to mask your IP address, preventing GamStop from detecting that you are trying to access the site. Another way to get around GamStop is to create a new account with a different email address and name.

Betting shops use a separate scheme administered by the same group that runs GamStop. If you reached one while self-excluded, our guide to what to do when self-exclusion fails explains the next steps. We will not help anyone find or access such a site, and you should treat any platform that advertises being outside GamStop as a warning rather than an option. The phrase is a marketing signal that a site sits outside the UK scheme, and therefore outside the protection you thought you had. The protections you assumed you had when you self-excluded simply do not travel to a site licensed abroad.

Banks including Monzo, Starling, Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, and others allow you to activate a block on all gambling transactions through your banking app. If an operator refuses to return your money, you can escalate the complaint to the Gambling Commission. Any bonus funds or free spins that were active at the time of exclusion are typically forfeited, though real money balances must be returned. You will lose access to slots, table games, live dealer games, and any progressive jackpot games. Open bets placed before your exclusion may still be settled, but you cannot place new wagers or adjust existing ones. This includes pre-match betting, in-play betting, and any accumulator or futures bets.

Some operators may require you to complete additional responsible gambling assessments before restoring full access. If you select 5 years, you will be excluded from all UKGC-licensed online gambling for the full five years with no option to reduce this timeframe. As of 2026, over 400 online gambling companies participate in GamStop, covering thousands of individual websites and apps. Before GamStop existed, players who wished to self-exclude had to contact each gambling operator individually — a time-consuming and often ineffective process. Yes, in practice this is possible, since GamStop only applies to sites licensed by the UKGC and has no reach over offshore operators. If you are concerned about your gambling, the most effective step is to contact GamStop directly at GamStop to register for self-exclusion from all UKGC-licensed sites.

As with many people who go on to develop a gambling problem, Ollie had a big early win, according to his family, scooping about £15,000. Ollie’s sister Chloe believes the game he loved has effectively been “hijacked by the gambling industry and used as a powerful vehicle for addiction and profit”. Last year, punters wagered almost £10bn on football games, delivering £1.3bn in takings for gambling companies, nearly twice what they made from horse racing. Football has risen to become Britain’s biggest betting sport, fuelled by the rise of rapid-fire “in play” wagers on minor outcomes such as the next goal scorer or the number of corners. But bank statements provided by Ollie’s family – together with a trail of online evidence – are beginning to provide clues about the mechanics of this phenomenon.

GamStop is suitable for people experiencing problem gambling, those who want a preventative measure, or anyone who simply wants to take time away from online betting. By registering with GamStop, you voluntarily exclude yourself from all gambling websites and apps operated by companies licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. It is designed for anyone living in the United Kingdom who wishes to take a break from online gambling.

Provides tools and educational resources for responsible gambling. Support for family members of individuals with gambling addiction. Offers a gambling behavior self-assessment, information about treatment, and a 24/7 National Problem Gambling Helpline.

GamStop is a free, nationwide self-exclusion scheme for anyone in the UK who wants to block their access to all UK-licensed online gambling sites and apps. If a betting activity requires authorisation and involves an online gambling operator integrated with GamStop, you will not be able to place bets during your self-exclusion period. Once the self-exclusion period begins, customers will be unable to access online gambling platforms integrated with GamStop. Non-GamStop casinos are online gambling platforms that are not registered with the UK’s self-exclusion scheme, GamStop. As of 2026, over 400 online gambling operators participate in the scheme, making it one of the most comprehensive self-exclusion tools available to British consumers. GamStop is the UK’s free self-exclusion scheme that blocks you from all UKGC-licensed online gambling sites.

Examples include casinos licensed in Curaçao or other non-UK jurisdictions. Only offshore or unlicensed gambling sites fall outside GamStop’s remit. Registered sites then verify you against the GamStop database and refuse you access for the period you select.

GamStop covers the licensed online market in one registration. If you are not sure which scheme you used, or whether your losses were with a licensed or an offshore operator, that is exactly what an assessment is for. Months later, in a low moment, they opened an account with a different licensed operator they had never used before.