GAMSTOP
GAMSTOP is the free national self-exclusion scheme that blocks you from every gambling website and app licensed in Great Britain with a single registration. You choose six months, one year or five years, and every UK-licensed online operator must check new and existing customers against the GAMSTOP list and refuse anyone registered.
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Key takeaways
- One free registration covers every online gambling site and app licensed in Great Britain.
- Options are six months, one year or five years, and none can be ended early.
- All UK-licensed online operators have had to take part since 31 March 2020.
- Keeping your details up to date helps sites match you correctly.
- What it is
- National online self-exclusion
- Cost
- Free
- Periods
- 6 months, 1 year, 5 years
- Covers
- UK-licensed websites and apps
- Run by
- National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Ltd
What GAMSTOP is and who runs it
GAMSTOP takes the idea of self-exclusion and applies it across the whole online market at once. Rather than contacting each casino or bookmaker separately, you register with GAMSTOP and every online operator holding a licence from the UKGC is required to exclude you. The scheme is run by a not-for-profit company, The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited, and is free to use. Taking part became a licence condition for all online operators on 31 March 2020.
A separate service under the same name now covers betting shops, so the online scheme described here is sometimes called GAMSTOP Online to tell the two apart.
How GAMSTOP stops you gambling online
The block works through matching rather than through your device. When you register, GAMSTOP records personal details such as your name, date of birth, email address, postcode and mobile number. Licensed operators check customers against that list when someone opens an account or logs in. If the details match, the operator must refuse the account or block it from gambling, return any balance and stop marketing.
- You register on the GAMSTOP website and choose a period.
- Your details are shared securely with participating operators.
- A site checks a customer’s details against the list at sign-up and on log-in.
- A match means no new account, and existing accounts are blocked from gambling.
- The block holds for the period you chose, and beyond it until you ask for removal.
Because matching relies on details, it helps to keep your GAMSTOP account current if you move house or change email address. The block can take up to 24 hours to become fully effective across all sites, so a time-out on any account you use regularly can bridge that gap.
GAMSTOP exclusion periods
| Period | Can it be shortened? | What happens at the end |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | No | Stays active until you ask to be removed |
| 1 year | No | Stays active until you ask to be removed |
| 5 years | No | Stays active until you ask to be removed |
The last column is the part people often miss. A GAMSTOP registration does not lapse on its end date. To start gambling again you have to contact GAMSTOP and ask for the exclusion to be removed, which builds in time to reconsider. You can extend a registration from your GAMSTOP account at any point.
What GAMSTOP does not cover
- Gambling sites not licensed in Great Britain, which do not check the GAMSTOP list.
- High-street venues such as land-based casinos, arcades and bingo halls, which have their own schemes.
- Gambling that happens through someone else’s account.
- Spending on your bank card at sites outside the scheme, which a bank gambling block can stop.
Sites that advertise themselves as not on GAMSTOP are, by definition, outside British regulation: no UK stake limits, no UK complaint routes and no duty to protect you. Our guide to spotting unlicensed slot sites explains the warning signs, and the blocking guide covers software and bank blocks that work alongside GAMSTOP.
Before and after you register with GAMSTOP
Withdrawing balances first saves chasing refunds later, though operators must return funds either way. Turn off gambling notifications and unsubscribe from marketing emails, since a few may already be in the post when the block starts. After registering, it is common to feel restless for a while; free support from GamCare, NHS gambling clinics and the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) is there for that part. Our gambling support services page lists what each one offers.
Terms related to GAMSTOP
- Self-exclusion: the wider idea GAMSTOP applies across sites.
- KYC: the identity checks that make matching accurate.
- Time-out: a short break with one operator.
- Loss limit: a spending control for people who keep playing.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is GAMSTOP?
GAMSTOP is a free self-exclusion service that blocks you from all online gambling websites and apps licensed in Great Britain with one registration. You choose six months, one year or five years, and participating operators must refuse you an account, block any existing account and stop marketing for that period. Every operator with a GB online licence has had to take part since 31 March 2020. It is run by a not-for-profit company. Our self-exclusion entry explains how it fits alongside single-site exclusions.
How long does GAMSTOP take to work?
A GAMSTOP registration can take up to 24 hours to become fully effective across all participating sites, although many operators will pick it up sooner. During that window, an existing account could still let you log in. To close the gap, set a time-out or exclude directly on any account you use often, and withdraw your balances first. After the first day, the block should apply everywhere licensed in Great Britain. If a site still lets you play, report it to GAMSTOP and to the operator.
Can I cancel GAMSTOP early?
No, a GAMSTOP exclusion cannot be cancelled or shortened before the period you chose has finished. That applies whether you ask GAMSTOP or an individual casino. Once the minimum period is over, the exclusion still stays in place until you contact GAMSTOP and request removal. If you are finding the exclusion hard, the urge to cancel is worth talking through with the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or GamCare. Our guide on signs slots are becoming a problem may also help.
Does GAMSTOP block every gambling site?
No, GAMSTOP only covers gambling websites and apps licensed by the Gambling Commission to serve customers in Great Britain. Offshore sites without a GB licence do not check the list, and land-based venues use separate schemes. Those unlicensed sites also lack UK protections such as stake limits and complaints routes. Combining GAMSTOP with a bank gambling block and blocking software covers most of the gaps. Our guide on how to block gambling sites explains each layer.
What details do I need to register with GAMSTOP?
You register with your personal details, typically your name, date of birth, email address, postcode and mobile number, and then pick the exclusion period. Operators match customers against these details, so accuracy matters. If you have used other email addresses or lived at another address recently, keep your GAMSTOP account up to date so the matching works. Registration is free and done online. Because sites also verify identity under their own KYC checks, a match is hard to slip past.
What happens when my GAMSTOP period ends?
Nothing changes automatically when the period ends: the exclusion remains active until you contact GAMSTOP and ask to be removed. That extra step gives you time to decide whether returning is a good idea. If you do return, it is sensible to set a deposit limit and a reality check from the start, and to keep an eye on how much time and money you spend. You can also choose to extend the registration instead. The responsible gambling page sets out the tools available.