GAMSTOP Explained
GAMSTOP is the UK’s national online self-exclusion scheme. Every operator licensed by the Gambling Commission must be part of it. Here’s what it is, how it works, what it doesn’t do, and how to pair it with other tools if you want a complete block.
What it is
A free service that, once registered, blocks you from every UK-licensed online gambling site and app — slots, casino, bingo, sports betting, poker, lottery betting — for a period you choose. It is run by a not-for-profit company, funded by the industry, and participation has been mandatory for licensed operators since 2020.
How registration works
You sign up at gamstop.co.uk with your name, date of birth, postcode, email address and phone number. Registration takes a few minutes, requires no proof and involves no assessment or conversation. It comes into effect within 24 hours.
Providing every email address, phone number and previous address you’ve used matters, because operators match your details against their customer databases. A partial registration can leave gaps.
The exclusion periods
| Period | Can it be shortened? | What happens at the end |
| 6 months | No | Stays active until you ask for it to be lifted |
| 1 year | No | Stays active until you ask for it to be lifted |
| 5 years | No | Stays active until you ask for it to be lifted |
You choose at registration. The exclusion cannot be shortened once set. Crucially, when the period ends it does not lapse automatically — you have to contact GAMSTOP to lift it, and there’s a further 24-hour waiting period before you can gamble. Many people register for six months and stay excluded for years simply because they never ask to be removed.
What happens to your accounts
Operators must close or suspend your accounts and stop all marketing to you. Any real-money funds in your balance remain yours and can be withdrawn — contact the operator directly, since you won’t be able to log in. Bonus funds and pending free spins are typically forfeited.
If you try to open a new account with a licensed operator while excluded, the registration will be refused.
What it does not cover
- Non-UK-licensed sites. GAMSTOP only applies to operators the Gambling Commission regulates. Offshore sites are outside it — which is one of several reasons to avoid them, and a reason some people in difficulty end up on them. A GAMSTOP registration is not, by itself, a complete block.
- Land-based venues. Bookmakers’ shops, casinos, bingo halls and arcades have separate self-exclusion schemes (MOSES for betting shops, SENSE for casinos, and the Bingo Association and Bacta schemes for their venues).
- The National Lottery and its instant-win games.
- Reaching the sites. GAMSTOP stops licensed sites from letting you in. It doesn’t stop you from visiting them or seeing their advertising.
Building a complete block
For a genuinely comprehensive barrier, GAMSTOP is one of three layers:
- GAMSTOP — blocks account access at every licensed operator.
- Blocking software — Gamban, available free through GamCare’s TalkBanStop partnership, blocks gambling sites and apps at the device level, including offshore ones.
- Bank gambling block — most UK banks offer a block on gambling transactions from your debit card and account, with a cooling-off period before removal.
Each closes a gap the others leave. Together they cover access, reach and money.
GAMSTOP vs an operator’s own self-exclusion
Excluding one casino covers only that casino and its sister brands under the same licence. GAMSTOP covers every licensed operator at once, including ones you haven’t used yet. If you’re self-excluding because gambling has become a problem, GAMSTOP is the more effective choice; operator-level exclusion is more useful for “I just don’t want to use this site any more”.
Who it’s for
Anyone who wants a hard stop. That includes people in serious difficulty, but also people who simply want gambling removed as an option for a season — through a house move, a financial squeeze, exams, a new baby, a period of low mood. There’s no assessment, no judgement and no record shared beyond the operators who need to enforce it. It’s a switch, and it’s yours to flip.
GAMSTOP is free at gamstop.co.uk. For support alongside it, contact GambleAware or GamCare.
