[HARROGATE, JULY 2024] GAMSTOP, the national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, has today announced that more than 1,904 consumers registered with the service in an average week during the first half of 2024.
More than 49,000 people have self-excluded from gambling sites in 2024 so far. April 2024 was a record-breaking month with 8,686 new registrants - the highest volume of monthly registrations since GAMSTOP’s inception in April 2018.
The Euros also appears to have had an impact, with registrations up 8% for the first half of July (knockout stages) compared to the same period last year. There were unusually high volumes of registrations on three days in particular - the day after England's group stage victory over Serbia, the day after England's extra time last 16 victory over Slovakia and the day after the final.
A total of 482,815 people have registered with GAMSTOP from its launch to the end of June 2024. The ongoing increase in registrations suggests that self-exclusion continues to be an important tool for consumers facing challenges with their gambling, giving them a chance to pause and seek additional support.
The age of those choosing to use GAMSTOP’s service continues to get younger. One in two of those who registered in H1 2024 were aged 16-35. Furthermore, there was a 12% year-on-year increase in the number of 16–24-year-olds choosing to exclude themselves from all online gambling sites.
Nearly half of GAMSTOP registrants (49%) signed up for a five-year exclusion – the longest timeframe currently available. Consumers can also choose to self-exclude for shorter periods of six months or one year.
Those registered continue to be mostly men, with 71% of registrants in the first half of the year identifying as male.
Responding to these latest findings, GAMSTOP CEO, Fiona Palmer said:
“The increasing number of registrations we have seen in the first half of 2024 could reflect a growing awareness and proactive approach among individuals to tackle gambling-related issues. Particularly concerning is the 12% year-on-year rise in registrations among 16-24-year-olds, indicating the urgent need for targeted support for younger age groups and preventative education to this demographic.
GAMSTOP's mission remains steadfast: to provide a crucial safety net for those struggling with gambling. The continuing rise in registration figures affirm the importance and effectiveness of our service in helping people reclaim control over their lives."
