Self-exclusion service GAMSTOP has reported a 9.5 per cent increase in registrations in 2023, with registrants expected to surpass 500,000 this year.
Since its creation in April 2018 to the end of December 2023, GAMSTOP has registered 433,357 people onto its service, with more than 92,000 registering in the past year, a record high. May 2023 saw the most new registrations within a single month at 8,591.
In June, representatives of the self-exclusion scheme and those with lived experiences spoke at an event at the House of Lords to mark the service’s fifth anniversary.
55 per cent of all registrants self-excluded for a period of five years with GAMSTOP, which is also the longest period someone can self-exclude for. Registrants can also self-exclude for six months or a year.
Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, noted that the registration increase signifies the importance of self-exclusion in helping those who need support with their gambling.
“We are continuing to see a year-on-year increase in the number of registrants, which shows the importance of self-exclusion for anyone struggling with their gambling, alongside other blocking tools and support,” commented Palmer.
“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.”
Harj Gahley, Non-Executive Director at gambling charity Red Card and registered with GAMSTOP, had a gambling addiction for over 10 years from the age of 23. He praised the support he received from the service.
Gahley said: “As the prevalence of online gambling has continued to grow in the UK, schemes such as GAMSTOP have become a necessary lifeline for thousands of vulnerable people. For me, GAMSTOP has been a crucial part of my recovery knowing that I’m safely blocked from being able to gamble online.
“With the start of a new year comes the opportunity to implement changes in one’s life, I can’t recommend GAMSTOP highly enough for anyone, young or old, male or female, who might be suffering from gambling-related issues.”
GAMSTOP added that there has also been an increase in the number of teenagers and young adults self-excluding, as in the latter half of 2023, there was a 31 per cent uptick in the number of registrants aged 16 to 24.
The same group also made up around 21 per cent of all registrants between July and December, up from 17 per cent during the same period the previous year.
During the year, GAMSTOP conducted a UK university campus tour, meeting with students and conducting in-depth conversations to educate and raise awareness on gambling self-exclusion.
The service added it will soon be revealing the results of its annual research into student gambling.
Palmer added: “The prevalence of young adults among GAMSTOP’s registrants shows the importance of educating younger consumers and we will continue our outreach to this age group in 2024, working collaboratively with like-minded organisations and harnessing the support of our football club partners.”
