GAMSTOP Reaches Major Milestone with Over 500,000 Users Registered
As of September 2024, GAMSTOP, the UK's self-exclusion service for online gambling, has achieved a significant milestone with over 500,000 users registered since its launch in 2018. Of these users, 440,000 are currently excluded from gambling activities, and nearly half have opted for the maximum exclusion period of five years.
Earlier this year, in April 2024, GAMSTOP set a new record with 8,686 new sign-ups in a single month, marking the highest number of new registrants in its history. The service continues to see strong growth, with consistent year-on-year increases throughout 2023 and the first half of 2024.
Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, commented on this milestone: "Since our launch in April 2018, GAMSTOP has become a vital tool for helping vulnerable individuals take a break from gambling. We're proud to have supported hundreds of thousands in regaining control over their lives through self-exclusion, and we are committed to helping many more in the future."
A recent survey conducted by Ipsos, involving over 4,650 GAMSTOP users, revealed encouraging results. According to the survey, 78% of respondents felt that GAMSTOP met their expectations, while 75% reported feeling more in control of their gambling behaviour since using the service.
Palmer emphasised the importance of ongoing evaluation, stating, "It's essential that we continue to assess the effectiveness of GAMSTOP through independent research, and we look forward to sharing the results of a comprehensive study conducted by Ipsos later this month."
The upcoming full report is expected to shed further light on the impact of self-exclusion and broader trends in responsible gambling across the UK.
Mark Patterson is the news writer at CasinosInCanada who covers the latest developments in the iGaming industry, including casino launches, regulations, and market updates.
I applaud GAMSTOP for reaching this milestone, but I hope the gambling industry doesn’t just rely on services like this to ‘solve’ the issue. More regulations and restrictions are needed to protect vulnerable people before they even reach this point.
While it's good to see this progress, it’s worrying that so many people feel the need to exclude themselves from gambling. There needs to be more done on the prevention side, not just after people get into trouble.
I signed up for GAMSTOP last year, and it’s been a game-changer for me. The fact that so many people are taking control of their gambling habits is a positive step forward for responsible gambling.
It’s great to see GAMSTOP helping so many people, but it also shows just how serious the gambling problem is. Half a million users is a huge number! Hopefully, more initiatives like this will keep growing to support those in need.