Gamstop Registrations Surpass 250,000
The number of people that have signed up for Britain’s GAMSTOP service has surpassed the quarter of a million mark, with 7,047 signing up in March alone.
GAMSTOP Registrations Surge © Pixabay.
Britain’s leading gambling self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP has reached a milestone with over a quarter of a million registrations for the service.
The not-for-profit organisation based in the UK launched the service in 2018, intending to help people struggling with gambling addiction. Their registration service allows them to block themselves from accessing websites and apps run by companies registered with the UK’s Gambling Commission.
The service has seen a surge in registrations, especially during the Covid times. The 67,000 figure that joined in 2021 was 31.4% higher than the 51,000 who signed up the year before.
In March this year, 7,047 people joined GAMSTOP, the second-highest figure since the scheme’s inception.
A month earlier, in February, the scheme saw a 21% increase in those registering. On the 22n of February, 326 people registered on that day alone, a record that still exists.
Those that register for GAMSTOP are highly likely to take advantage of the self-exclusion aspect. Of the quarter of a million that have registered, 228,000 are currently self-excluded, equalling 91.2% of those registered.
GAMSTOP had previously released data that showed that the large majority of those that join the platform are male, with the gender split 71%/29%. However, the younger generation (18 -34) is more likely to register at 59%.
The surge in numbers has come as a surprise, and even GAMSTOP themselves have been unable to pinpoint the reason. The CEO of GAMSTOP, Fiona Palmer, said: “The registration levels are higher than anticipated this year, though we cannot pinpoint one specific reason for this.”
One of the reasons for the popularity of GAMSTOP is that, unlike other products that can be used to reduce gambling, the service is not-for-profit, and registration is free. In addition, those signing up for the service can choose between exclusion periods of 6 months, one year or five years. It can take 24 hours to become active. However, once requested, it is not possible to cancel your GAMSTOP inclusion.
High profile football teams have heavily promoted GAMSTOP, recently Crystal Palace, Brentford, Luton, Middlesbrough, QPR, Morecambe, Preston North End, Bolton Wanderers, Milton Keynes Dons and Harrogate Town have all given their support to the scheme.
GAMSTOP’s CEO added: We have developed the scheme to make it easier to register and have worked hard on raising our profile to make sure we are more visible to those who might need us. The effects of the pandemic might also have something to do with the rise.
“The independent evaluation which took place during the first three months of this year showed us how effective our consumers felt the scheme had been to their ongoing recovery.” Last month GAMSTOP added to their board by appointing the former Buzz Bingo compliance officer Simon Reynolds.
Reynolds has over 30 years of compliance and regulatory affairs experience and became a non-executive director. His appointment made him the only industry-focused member of the five-strong board.
Jenny Watson, chair of GAMSTOP, said of his appointment: “We are delighted that Simon has agreed to join the board and look forward to working with him in the future,”
“We will always put the consumer at the heart of our service, but it is important for us to also hear from operators, and I know Simon will bring welcome insight to our discussions,” she added.
