GAMSTOP has reported a 12 per cent increase in sign-ups to its self-exclusion service in the first half of 2023 in comparison to the previous year, including a 30 per cent uptick in sign-ups from 16-24 year olds.
The UK’s online self-exclusion scheme has stated that it saw over 48,000 consumers register for the scheme in the first six months of the year, with sign-up monthly records set in March and May.
2023’s figure for the first half of the year is a 12 per cent increase on over 43,500 reported registrants during the first six months of 2022.
Diving further into the data, GAMSTOP noted that there was a 30 per cent increase in sign-ups to the scheme from 16-24 year olds, which in total represented 21 per cent of all new registrants during the first six months of 2023.
Reflecting on the data, GAMSTOP CEO, Fiona Palmer, highlighted the importance of the scheme and how it is helping those that need it most exclude themselves from all UK operators for a period of either six months, one year or five years.
She commented: “Today’s data shows the continuing importance of GAMSTOP in helping consumers to protect themselves from gambling harm. At our Parliamentary reception in June to mark GAMSTOP’s fifth anniversary, we heard the moving stories of some of those who have benefitted from the scheme.
“This data puts those stories and lived experiences into a wider context and shows that self-exclusion is an increasingly important tool for anyone trying to take a break from gambling.”
Out of all new registrations, 50 per cent opted to exclude themselves from gambling for the maximum period of five years, 71 per cent of new registrants were male while 29 per cent were female.
In total, more than 390,000 people have signed up for GAMSTOP since it was established in 2018. This figure stood at 341,365 people at the beginning of this year.