5BTC or 111% + 111 Free Spins!
New players only. Exclusive 111% Welcome Bonus + 111 Free Spins
The national self-exclusion program for internet gambling, known as GAMSTOP, has reported a notable rise in registrations, with a 9.5% year-over-year increase from 2022 to 2023. According to the data, there has been a significant increase, with over 92,000 vulnerable customers choosing to self-exclude from gambling websites in 2023—a record-breaking year. Notably, May 2023 saw an astounding 8,591 new sign-ups, making it the month with the most registrations.
By the end of December 2023, GAMSTOP will have recorded a total registration figure of 433,357 since its founding in April 2018. The self-exclusion website held an event in the House of Lords last year to commemorate its fifth anniversary, offering personal accounts from people who have experienced it firsthand.
Current data from the second half of 2023 shows a consistent increase in the number of registrations from youth and young adults, with the 16 to 24 age group seeing a significant 31% year-over-year increase in registrations. Between July and December 2023, this age group made up around 21% of registrations, which is an increase from 17% during the same period in 2022. This expansion has been facilitated by GAMSTOP’s proactive outreach to university students through campus visits; the organization will soon release the findings of its yearly study on student gambling.
GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer emphasized the significance of self-exclusion as a crucial tool for individuals grappling with gambling challenges. Palmer stated, “We want to continue raising awareness of GAMSTOP to anyone who might benefit from self-exclusion and to the friends and families of anyone affected by gambling.”
Most GAMSTOP registrants (55%) choose the longest exclusion period that is presently offered, which is a five-year period. Customers can, however, choose for shorter self-exclusion periods, which might be as short as six months or a year.
Harj Gahley, a former gambler and non-executive director of the gambling charity Red Card, praised GAMSTOP as a vital lifeline after considering the influence of the program on his rehabilitation. Gahley emphasized how the platform’s prohibition of online gambling options contributes to users’ feeling of security.