Summary:
- An all-time high of 92,000 customers registered with GAMSTOP in 2023
- GAMSTOP has now catered to over 433,000 customers since its launch in 2018
- The rise in registrations is due in part to GAMSTOP’s awareness campaigns which focus heavily on young people
The UK’s national self-exclusion scheme, GAMSTOP, has reported a rise in the number of people self-excluding from online gambling. In 2023, a record 92,000 customers registered with the scheme.
The latest figures indicate that more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of self-exclusion and other types of tools and support designed to prevent gambling harm, a testament to the effectiveness of the various information campaigns and initiatives spearheaded by GAMSTOP in recent years.
GAMSTOP Registrations on the Rise
Launched in April 2018, GAMSTOP allows users to self-exclude from all online gambling platforms licensed in Great Britain for a period of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. The scheme is aimed at helping customers keep their online gambling under control.
Once registered, customers cannot cancel their self-exclusion until their chosen period has finished. When the exclusion period ends, customers will still need to contact GAMSTOP to reinstate access to online gambling sites and apps. Otherwise, the exclusion will remain in place.
Since its launch, the number of people signing up to GAMSTOP has been on the rise, hitting a new all-time high in 2023 with a total of 92,000 registrations, up 9.5% year-on-year. May 2023 had the largest number of registrations since GAMSTOP started, with 8,591 new signees. Total registrations now sit at 433,357, with the majority choosing the maximum five-year self-exclusion period.
Youth Awareness Initiatives Successful So Far
Over the past few years, GAMSTOP has launched a series of initiatives and programs in an effort to reach more people and keep them informed about the different tools and support available to help those struggling with gambling issues. Its recent initiatives have focused mainly on educating the youth about the impact of gambling harm, and such efforts have yielded positive results as the number of young people signing up for the scheme continues to rise.
The past year saw a 31% increase in sign-ups among young adults aged 16-24, and this age group now accounts for 21% of total new registrations, up from 17%.
Commenting on the latest figures, GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer highlighted the importance of educating younger consumers and vowed to continue their youth-focused programs this year and beyond, in cooperation with like-minded organizations.
