What is GamStop? The national scheme and 3 things it blocks

GamStop is a free self-exclusion scheme that blocks your access to every gambling site licensed in Great Britain. You register once on the GamStop website, choose a period of at least six months, and within 24 hours you will be prevented from placing bets or opening new accounts on any site covered by the scheme. The rest of this article explains what GamStop does and doesn't cover, how to register, and where to turn for support. AJAG gives practical guidance for anyone looking to take control of their gambling.

How GamStop works

When you register with GamStop, you provide basic personal details and choose a self-exclusion period: six months, one year, or five years. The scheme then shares your information with every gambling operator licensed by the Gambling Commission. Those operators are legally required to close your existing accounts and block any attempt to open new ones.

The block takes effect within 24 hours of registration. You cannot reverse the decision once made, even if you change your mind the next day. The minimum period is six months, and at the end of that time you can choose to remain excluded or let the block expire.

GamStop does not require you to contact individual operators yourself. The scheme handles the entire process centrally, which removes the burden of writing to dozens of sites one by one.

What GamStop blocks

GamStop covers all online gambling sites licensed by the Gambling Commission. That includes online casinos, sports betting, bingo, poker, lotteries and any other form of remote gambling regulated in Great Britain.

It does not block:

• Gambling sites that operate without a UK licence, sometimes called offshore sites
• Betting shops, bookmakers or casinos you visit in person
• The National Lottery website or app, which operates under a separate licence and is not part of the GamStop scheme
• Social casino games or free-to-play apps that do not involve real money

If you want to block unlicensed sites as well, you need additional software such as Gamban or BetBlocker, described below.

How to register with GamStop

1. Visit gamstop.co.uk and click the registration link on the home page.
2. Enter your name, date of birth, address, email address and phone number exactly as they appear on the accounts you hold with gambling operators.
3. Choose your exclusion period: six months, one year or five years.
4. Confirm your registration by clicking the link sent to your email address.

The entire process takes a few minutes. You do not need to provide proof of identity at this stage, though operators may ask for verification later if they suspect an attempt to bypass the block.

GamStop compared to other blocking options

What happens during the exclusion period

Once GamStop is active, you cannot log into any existing account or create a new one on a covered site. Operators will reject any registration that matches your details, and many will also block accounts opened with similar information such as a different spelling of your name or a variant of your address.

You will not receive marketing emails, texts or phone calls from operators in the scheme. Any remaining balance in your accounts should be withdrawable, though you may need to contact customer support directly if you cannot access the account.

The exclusion is irreversible. If you registered for six months, you remain blocked for six months no matter what happens in your life during that time. This is by design: the cooling-off period is meant to break the cycle of chasing losses and give you space to rebuild without the option to gamble on impulse.

What to do if you find a way around GamStop

Some people register with an unlicensed site or use a friend's account during the exclusion period. If that happens, the block has not failed: those sites and those actions fall outside its scope. The question then becomes whether you need additional tools or support to address the urge itself, not just the access. Blocking software such as Gamban covers unlicensed sites, and counselling addresses the thoughts that lead to searching for a way around any block.

Blocking software that works alongside GamStop

GamStop blocks UK-licensed sites. If you are also tempted by unlicensed operators or want a second layer of protection, two pieces of software are widely used in the UK.

Gamban is a paid subscription service that blocks gambling sites and apps across all your devices. It covers licensed and unlicensed operators, and once installed it is very difficult to remove during the period you choose. The software runs on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

BetBlocker is a free tool that works in a similar way but must be installed on each device separately. It blocks gambling sites in your browser and can be set to remain active for a fixed period, making it harder to disable on impulse.

Both tools are more comprehensive than GamStop alone. If you know you have searched for ways around a block in the past, using one of these alongside GamStop makes that much harder.

Self-exclusion and what it means

GamStop is one form of self-exclusion. The term means asking to be blocked from gambling, either at one operator or across many at once. Self-exclusion is not a failure: taking the step to block your own access is a practical decision that recognises the gap between wanting to stop and being able to stop in the moment.

You can read more about the different ways to arrange self-exclusion, including schemes for betting shops and casinos you visit in person.

What to do after registering

GamStop removes access, but it does not remove the urge to gamble or the circumstances that made gambling feel necessary. Many people find the first few weeks after blocking access the hardest, because the habit is still strong and the reasons for gambling have not yet changed.

If gambling has been a daily part of your routine, that time needs to be filled with something else. It does not have to be large or meaningful: a walk, a phone call, a television series. The point is to break the association between a time of day and the urge to place a bet.

If gambling has been a way to escape difficult feelings or financial pressure, those feelings will still be there once access is blocked. That is when talking to someone who understands problem gambling makes a difference. The organisations below offer confidential support and practical advice on how to stop gambling and rebuild your finances and relationships.

Where to get help

GamStop is a tool, not a treatment. If you are struggling with gambling, or if someone you care about is, free confidential support is available across the UK.

GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is free and confidential. You can also visit gamcare.org.uk for live chat and written resources.

BeGambleAware provides information, advice and signposting to treatment services. Visit begambleaware.org to find local support.

Gordon Moody offers residential and online treatment for people with serious gambling problems. Visit gordonmoody.org.uk to learn more.

Gambling is for people aged 18 and over. If you share a device with someone younger, parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio can block gambling sites and apps before they become a problem.

This article is for general information only. AJAG is an information site; we do not sell any goods or services. Gambling should be a choice, not a compulsion, and help is available when it stops feeling like one.

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Download PDF: GamStop registration and support checklist PDF, 28 KB