SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
UK national online self-exclusion registry GAMSTOP has published its figures for March, revealing a record number of sign-ups for a single month.
The service reported 8,504 registrations for March 2023, not only marking its ‘highest-ever’ monthly figure but also a year-on-year increase of 24% on 2022.
GAMSTOP has earmarked the March betting activity generated by the Cheltenham Festival as a likely reason for the upsurge in registrations, stating that the ‘biggest days’ for signups occurred in the ‘immediate aftermath’ of the races.
Fiona Palmer, GAMSTOP CEO, said: “Our most recent data shows that, five years after our inception, GAMSTOP is providing an increasingly important service to potentially vulnerable consumers who want to take a break from gambling.”
The 24% YoY uptick has driven the number of GAMSTOP registrations to over 365,000 since its inception in 2017 as the public-facing brand of the National Gambling Self-Exclusion Scheme.
Last year also proved to be an active year for the service, with a record 84,000 signing up, a figure which was amplified by the backdrop of the wider UK Gambling Act review.
The review has seen betting’s societal impact placed in the spotlight, and its judgements will apparently become clear this week, as many observers anticipate its imminent publication.
GAMSTOP continues to emphasise the success of its operation, stating that surveys have shown its users believe the service provides a safety net that has assisted with their recovery from gambling addiction.
The findings of a survey published last week showed positive reviews of the GAMSTOP scheme by its participants, as well as a good reception for the TalkBanStop initiative – the service it jointly operates with GamCare and Gamban.
Palmer continued: “The record monthly registrations shows that we cannot underestimate the demand for a scheme such as GAMSTOP.
“It is extremely important that we continue to raise awareness to make sure that anyone who needs us knows about us. We also need to continue to listen to our users and develop and improve the scheme to meet their needs.”
