What is Gamstop: the UK's national self-exclusion scheme

Gamstop is a free service that lets you block yourself from all gambling sites licensed in Great Britain at once. It is run independently and covers online casinos, betting sites and bingo halls that hold a UK Gambling Commission licence. Once you register, the sites you have chosen cannot contact you with promotions, and you cannot open new accounts or log into existing ones for the period you set. More on the practicalities and what happens after you sign up is covered at Advocacy Now.

Who runs Gamstop and who pays for it

Gamstop is operated by the National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme Ltd, a not-for-profit company set up by the gambling industry under the direction of the UK Gambling Commission. The service is funded by the operators it covers, and there is no charge to anyone who uses it. You do not need to contact individual sites or explain your reasons to sign up.

Coverage and what it blocks

Gamstop applies to gambling sites licensed by the Gambling Commission in Great Britain. That includes online casinos, sports betting, bingo, poker and lottery betting. It does not cover the National Lottery itself, scratchcards bought in shops, betting shops on the high street or any site operating without a UK licence.

When you register, every operator on the scheme receives your details within minutes. Your existing accounts are closed or suspended, and you cannot open new ones. Marketing emails, text messages and post from those operators stop.

Licensed sites only

Sites that do not hold a UK licence are not part of Gamstop. Some players find these sites after self-excluding, and they can be harder to block because they sit outside UK rules. Blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker can help close that gap, covering a wider range of domains including unlicensed ones.

How to register with Gamstop

Registration takes a few minutes and happens entirely online. You provide your name, address, date of birth, phone number and email address, then choose how long you want the block to last.

1. Visit gamstop.co.uk and start the registration form.
2. Fill in your personal details exactly as they appear on the accounts you hold with gambling sites.
3. Select a period: six months, one year or five years.
4. Confirm your identity through a text message or email link sent to the details you gave.
5. Wait for confirmation that your registration is active, usually within a few minutes.

Once confirmed, the block is in place across all participating operators. You will not be able to reverse it before the period ends.

Time periods and what happens when they end

You choose one of three durations when you sign up: six months, one year or five years. The period starts as soon as your registration is confirmed, and it cannot be shortened or cancelled once set. That permanence is by design: it gives you time away from gambling without the option to undo the decision in a moment of impulse.

When the period ends, the block lifts automatically. Operators can contact you again and you can open accounts if you choose to. Gamstop sends a reminder email seven days before the end date. If you want to remain excluded after that point, you need to register again before the period expires.

Extending your exclusion

You can extend your Gamstop registration at any time while it is still active, but only to a longer period. Someone on a six-month block can move to one year or five years; someone on one year can move to five. The extension starts from the date you make the change, not from when the original period would have ended.

Tools that work alongside Gamstop

Gamstop is one layer of protection, and it works best when combined with other steps. Blocking software installed on your devices can stop access to a broader set of sites, including those without UK licences. Many UK banks now let you block gambling transactions from your current account or debit card through their app, adding a financial barrier even if you find a way around site blocks.

Parental-control software such as Net Nanny or Qustodio can help if you share devices with children or other family members, keeping gambling content out of reach on shared phones, tablets and computers.

What Gamstop does not do

Gamstop is a site-access block, not a financial control. It stops you logging into participating gambling sites and prevents those operators from marketing to you, but it does not freeze your bank account, block gambling-related payments or notify your bank. If you want to stop payments as well, you need to set that up separately through your bank or card provider.

The scheme also does not offer counselling, financial advice or ongoing support after you register. It is a practical tool that removes access, giving you breathing room to seek help elsewhere if you need it.

Getting help beyond self-exclusion

Self-exclusion is a practical step, but it is rarely the only one someone needs. If gambling has caused harm, talking to someone trained to help can make the difference between coping alone and finding a way through.

GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, free and open around the clock. You can speak to an adviser without giving your name. BeGambleAware at begambleaware.org offers online chat, forums and a directory of local services. Gordon Moody at gordonmoody.org.uk provides residential and online treatment for people whose gambling has become severe.

Support is also available for family members and friends affected by someone else's gambling. GamCare's helpline is open to anyone, not only the person gambling. Online gambling is for people aged eighteen and over.

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Download PDF: Gamstop registration checklist PDF, 29 KB