Gamstop reports increase in self-exclusion as punters turn towards online gambling verticals

Gamstop has reported a 21% increase in the number of bettors utilising the self-exclusion tool during February, as revealed by the Guardian. 

The national self-exclusion scheme now has nearly 200,000 sign-ups, with 326 new registrants recorded on 22 February, a single-day record for the organisation.

“With the rate of registrants continuing to rise, I would urge anybody putting self-exclusion from online gambling in place through Gamstop to also seek treatment,” said Fiona Palmer, Chief Executive of Gamstop.

“Awareness around self-exclusion schemes and blocking software has been increasing throughout the last year, and it’s important that we continue to spread the message about what help is available to those who need it most.”

The group maintains that a ‘trend towards more online gamlbing’ is the primary driving factor behind the increase in self-exclusion requests, with the number of people using online betting sites increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, Gamstop has pointed to the number of registrants who attempted to bet after signing-up to the self-exclusion service as evidence that blocking software is not a ‘silver bullet’ for preventing gambling related harm.

Overall, the Guardian has reported that 49,328 out of a possible 177,039 self-excluded gamblers attempted to bet but were stopped from doing so due to their registration with Gamstop.

However, self-exclusion schemes still receive widespread support and praise from across the industry in addition to from responsible gamlbing advocates.

Mark Blanks, project manager at Peer Aid, commented on the national self-exclusion service: “It gives you that moment’s pause, that bit of breathing space, to ensure that when you have an urge or impulse, you can’t place a bet in that moment. That time to reflect can make all the difference.”

Furthermore, the group has recorded a notable increase in the number of women gambling, a figure which recently reached 50,000 for the first time since Gampstop’s launch in 2018.

The demographic makeup of the group’s client base continues to be predominantly male, however, with 71% of Gamstop registrants being men whilst 29% are women. Younger people are also far more likely to utilise the service, with 59% of sign-ups aged between 18 and 34.

Gamstop recently enhanced visibility of its self-exclusion service via an agreement with Premier League football club Crystal Palace FC, receiving brand exposure across the top-flight team’s social media channels.