Home » Gamstop: Definition, How It Works, Benefits, Drawbacks, and How to Register

Gamstop: Definition, How It Works, Benefits, Drawbacks, and How to Register

Gamstop is a free self-exclusion service in the UK designed to help people control their online gambling by blocking access to online casinos.

The purpose of Gamstop is to promote responsible gambling and provide a safety tool for those struggling with addiction. Once registered, you are blocked from accessing gambling sites for a specific time period, ranging from 6 months to 5 years.

You can register for Gamstop by visiting Gamstop’s website, entering your personal details, and selecting your desired exclusion period. However, Gamstop only participates with UK-licensed casinos. Gambling sites with other licenses, like Curacao and Kahnawake, don’t follow this self-exclusion.

Some popular Gamstop alternatives include Gamban, Betblocker, Gamblock, Net Nanny, and Betfilter.

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Written by
Uswa Iftikhar
12 Aug 2025
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Reviewed by
Okpala Stella Jessica
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What is Gamstop?

Gamstop is a UK-based self-exclusion program you can join to restrict yourself from accessing online gambling platforms. The program was established in 2018 when the cases of problem gambling and gambling addiction started growing in the UK. Gamstop is operated by The National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme Limited (NOSES), a non-profit organisation helping people fix their gambling habits.

The program was introduced under the legal framework of the UK Gambling Commission, which stated that all UK-licensed online gambling platforms must participate in Gamstop. Once users register with Gamstop, they are blocked from all UK-licensed gambling sites.

How Gamstop Works?

Gamstop works by asking users to register on the Gamstop website, where they provide their personal information to verify their identity. After registration, users select a self-exclusion period of either 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.

Once the self-exclusion duration is set, Gamstop integrates the information into a central database shared with all UK-licensed gambling sites. This ensures that participating online platforms automatically block the registered user from accessing their services. By doing this, Gamstop prevents users from gambling online during the chosen exclusion period and helps them regain control over their gambling behaviour.

What is the Purpose of Gamstop?

The purpose of Gamstop is to promote responsible gambling, reduce problem gambling, prevent gambling addiction, and help gambling addicts recover.

The main purposes of Gamstop are listed below.

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Promote Responsible Gambling
Gamstop encourages people to gamble within their limits and helps prevent excessive gambling.
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Reduce Problem Gambling
Gamstop reduces problem gambling behaviours by providing the self-exclusion option.
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Prevent Gambling Addiction
Gamstop serves as a preventive measure for gambling addiction by allowing people to block access to gambling sites.
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Help Gambling Addicts Recover
Gamstop acts as a recovery tool for those already struggling with gambling addiction.

What are the Advantages of Using Gamstop?

The advantages of using Gamstop are that it’s free of cost, affiliated with UK-licensed casinos, easy to use, has immediate protection, and has customisable exclusion periods.

These benefits of Gamstop are listed below.

  • Free of Cost: Gamstop is a completely free service, and you won’t have to pay a single penny to register. It’s beneficial for people looking to control their gambling habits without worrying about hidden fees or charges.
  • Affiliated with UK-Licensed Casinos: Gamstop is connected to all online casinos and gambling platforms licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. This ensures you are blocked from over 1000 gambling sites once you register.
  • Ease to Use: Gamstop offers a quick and user-friendly registration process. You just have to enter your basic information, verify your identity, and choose an exclusion period according to your needs and current gambling habits.
  • Immediate Protection: Once registered, Gamstop provides you with immediate self-exclusion from UKGC-licensed gambling sites.
  • Customisable Exclusion Periods: Gamstop offers 3 exclusion periods to choose from, including 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years. You can select a time frame of your choice that best suits your requirements and needs.

What are the Drawbacks of Using Gamstop?

The drawbacks of using Gamstop are that there are many ways to bypass Gamstop, it only works online, and has limited coverage.

These drawbacks of Gamstop are listed below.

  • Many Ways to Bypass Gamstop: Despite its effectiveness, many ways exist to bypass Gamstop. For example, users can get around Gamstop by playing on gambling sites not licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
  • Only Works Online: Gamstop is designed to block access only to online gambling platforms. It doesn’t work for offline venues like betting shops, casinos, or arcades. As a result, individuals struggling with gambling addiction can still engage in gambling activities in physical locations.
  • Limited Coverage: While Gamstop is connected to all UK-licensed sites, it doesn’t cover international or unlicensed platforms. This limited coverage means that users could still find opportunities to gamble online.

How to Register for Gamstop?

To register for Gamstop, you should visit the official Gamstop website, read the terms and conditions, complete the registration form, choose your exclusion period, and submit your application. 

The step-by-step guide on how to register for Gamstop is listed below.

  1. 1
    Visit the Official Gamstop Website
    Visit the official Gamstop website to initiate the registration process. Make sure you are navigating to the correct website to avoid potential scams.
  2. 2
    Read the Terms & Conditions
    Read the terms and conditions on Gamstop’s website to get a clear idea of what to expect. You will also learn about your rights during the self-exclusion period.
  3. 3
    Complete the Registration Form
    Navigate to the registration page on the site and complete the registration form that was given to you. You may have to provide information like your name, date of birth, address, and email. This information is used to verify your identity.
  4. 4
    Choose Your Exclusion Period
    Choose the time you want to be excluded from online gambling sites, ranging from 6 months to 5 years. Once set, you can’t change the exclusion period, so choose carefully.
  5. 5
    Submit Your Application
    Submit your application after reviewing the details. Gamstop will send you a confirmation email verifying that your self-exclusion is in place. This email serves as your proof of registration and provides further instructions or support if needed.

What are Some Popular Gamstop Alternatives in the UK?

Some popular Gamstop alternatives in the UK are Gamban, Betblocker, Gamblock, Net Nanny, and Betfilter.

These Gamstop alternatives are listed below.

  • Gamban: Gamban is a software that blocks access to gambling websites from all devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops. Unlike Gamstop, which only covers UK-licensed sites, Gamban participates with sites around the globe.
  • Betblocker: Betblocker is a free app that blocks gambling sites and is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Similar to Gamban, it offers worldwide coverage and allows users to control the length of the block.
  • Gamblock: Gamblock is another software that blocks access to gambling sites at the browser level. It is difficult to bypass and effective for people who want instant exclusion.
  • Net Nanny: Net Nanny is a parental control software that also includes features to block gambling websites. While it’s designed for monitoring and protecting children online, it can be used by people to prevent access to gambling sites. Net Nanny offers many content filtering options, including for gambling.
  • Betfilter: Betfilter is another software that blocks access to online gambling sites. It is compatible with multiple devices and is designed to be difficult to uninstall. It ensures that the block remains effective.

FAQs

Can you use Gamstop if you live outside the UK?

No, Gamstop is specifically designed for residents of the UK. The service is linked to UKGC-licensed gambling sites, and its self-exclusion features are for people with a UK address. If you live outside the UK, you won't be able to register for Gamstop, but you might consider alternative tools like Gamban or Betblocker.

Can you gamble after registering with Gamstop?

No, once you register with Gamstop, you can not gamble on any UKGC-licensed gambling sites during your self-exclusion period. However, Gamstop does not block access to non Gamstop casinos and physical gambling venues. This means that while Gamstop limits your gambling options, it doesn’t eliminate the possibility of gambling.

Does Gamstop cover all online gambling sites in the UK?

Yes, Gamstop covers all online gambling sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This includes the most popular platforms, but it does not cover unlicensed or non-UK gambling sites. If you register with Gamstop, you will be blocked from accessing UKGC-regulated sites, but there are still some sites outside this jurisdiction that Gamstop does not cover.