GAMSTOP, the national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, has announced record registration numbers for the start of the year.
In the biggest daily figures since its inception in 2018, GAMSTOP saw 415 people signing up on January 1st, followed by 413 new registrants on January 2nd and 396 on the 6th – the 3 highest daily registration figures since May 2023.
In a continued effort to support vulnerable consumers, GAMSTOP has introduced a new ‘5 years with auto-renewal’ option, for vulnerable consumers looking to extend their exclusion from gambling websites and apps. The new 5 -year auto-renewal exclusion was developed in direct response to feedback from users.
More than half a million people have signed up for GAMSTOP's services in the years following its launch, with many expressing a desire for longer-term exclusion options. Independent evaluation of the service by Ipsos found that some users are nervous about what happens when they come to the end of their exclusion period and others would have opted for a "lifetime" ban if it had been available.
Currently, at the end of a consumer’s self-exclusion period, the exclusion remains active for up to a further seven years unless they contact GAMSTOP to ask for it to be removed.
Under the new option, consumers who select 5-years with auto-renewal will have their exclusion automatically renewed for an additional 5-year period once the initial term expires. This cycle will continue, providing an ongoing safeguard against gambling participation unless the consumer actively chooses to opt-out of the auto-renewal feature.
For consumers who have opted in to receive emails, GAMSTOP will also begin sending email reminders to those with 5-year exclusions (with or without auto-renewal) every 15 months, helping them stay informed about their upcoming expiration and renewal dates.
The 5-year auto-renewal exclusion option is now available alongside GAMSTOP's existing 6-month, 1-year, and 5-year exclusion periods. Consumers with a current 5- year exclusion will be able to upgrade it by turning on auto-renewal within their account.
Gamstop Group CEO, Fiona Palmer said:
“We have come a very long way since our launch in April 2018, but our journey doesn’t stop there.
Our goal is to provide consumers with tools and options that empower them to take control of their gambling activity. As such, we’re consistently listening to feedback and evaluating the effectiveness of our service.
Consumers wanted longer exclusion periods and we listened. The introduction of the 5-year auto-renewal exclusion is an important step in ensuring consumers peace of mind when using our service and helping vulnerable consumers take a sustained break from their gambling.”
