GAMSTOP reports 25% rise in self-exclusions

GAMSTOP has reported a notable rise in the use of its free gambling self-exclusion scheme in the UK.

UK.- The self-exclusion provider GAMSTOP has reported a major rise in registrations on its tool in the year to date. The provider’s bi-annual review reports that registrations for its free national gambling self-exclusion scheme rose 25 per cent year-on-year for the first six months of 2021.

It reported 40,000 registrations in the period, taking the total number of users registered to 218,000. Of the total number of registrants, 70 per cent were male and 58 per cent chose the maximum exclusion period of five years.

GAMSTOP also reported an increase in the number of younger people using the scheme, with 41 per cent of registrants aged 25-to-34 and 59 per cent aged 18 to 34.

Independent analysis carried out by the research agency Sonnet found that the makeup of a sample of 3,300 registrants largely reflected that of the UK population: 89 per cent white, 3 per cent Asian, 2 per cent black and 1 per cent mixed-race.

It also found that 29 per cent lived in households with a pre-tax income of more than £48,000 per annum and 48 per cent in households that earned more than £32,000. Over 75 per cent were in full or part-time employment and 63 per cent did not have children.

The increase in registrants comes after a Gambling Commission survey published in August found little awareness of safer gambling tools in Britain. Earlier in the year, GAMSTOP reported that 10 per cent of users admitted to using unlicensed gaming sites to circumvent their self-exclusion.

GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer said: “While it is encouraging to see that consumers are continuing to find GAMSTOP and use it as a crucial safety net in their recovery, this review reinforces the importance of continuing to raise awareness of practical tools that are available to those struggling with gambling-related harm.

“Our evaluation results demonstrate that gambling-related harm is an issue that affects people from all walks of life, irrespective of income, location, or gender. It is imperative that we continue to reach people from across the UK, and to give them access to tools that can aid them in their recovery, or form an important preventative measure.”