Understanding GAMSTOP: How the National Self-Exclusion Register Works
SaveGAMSTOP is a free national register that lets you exclude yourself from all gambling sites licensed in Great Britain at once. It stops you from opening new accounts and accessing sites you're already registered with. If you're a business owner or self-employed person worried that gambling is affecting your work, your finances or your wellbeing, GAMSTOP is one practical tool you can use today.
This article explains what GAMSTOP does, how to set it up, what it covers and what it doesn't, and where to get support if gambling harm is already affecting your business.
How GAMSTOP works in practice
When you register with GAMSTOP, the scheme shares your details with every gambling site licensed by the Gambling Commission in Great Britain. Those sites must check their records against GAMSTOP's database and refuse your account applications. If you already have accounts, the sites must close them once GAMSTOP notifies them.
The exclusion runs for a period you choose at the point of registration: six weeks, six months or five years. Once that period ends, GAMSTOP removes you from the register and sites can accept new applications from you again. You cannot shorten the exclusion once it has started.
GAMSTOP works only for online gambling. It does not affect betting shops, arcades, bingo halls or any land-based gambling.
What GAMSTOP covers
GAMSTOP applies to all online gambling sites licensed by the Gambling Commission. This includes casino sites, online poker, bingo and sports betting platforms operating under a UKGC licence.
The scheme is designed to stop you from accessing licensed sites during your exclusion period. The sites must check you against the GAMSTOP database before letting you log in, register or place any bets.
What GAMSTOP does not cover
GAMSTOP only works on sites licensed in Great Britain. Unlicensed sites – sometimes called offshore operators – are not part of the scheme and GAMSTOP cannot block them. You should avoid these sites: they sit outside UK regulation and offer no player protections.
GAMSTOP also does not cover land-based gambling. Betting shops, casinos, bingo halls and arcades are separate from the online scheme.
Setting up GAMSTOP
- Visit the GAMSTOP website and click the register link.
- Enter your personal details, including your date of birth and address.
- Choose your exclusion length: six weeks, six months or five years.
- Read the terms and confirm your registration.
- GAMSTOP sends you a confirmation email with your reference number – keep this safe.
The process takes a few minutes. You do not need to contact individual sites; GAMSTOP notifies the licensed operators for you. However, if you have active accounts before you register, it can take those sites a few days to close them after GAMSTOP's notification reaches them.
GAMSTOP and your other options
| Tool | What it does | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| GAMSTOP | Blocks access to all licensed gambling sites in Great Britain | Six weeks, six months or five years – you choose |
| Deposit limits | Caps how much you can deposit into a single site in a set time period | You can change or remove it at any time on that site |
| Time-out | Temporarily closes your account on one site for a break | Days or weeks – you set the length |
| Self-exclusion on a single site | Permanently closes your account on that one site | Permanent – you cannot reverse it |
| Blocking software | Blocks gambling sites at device level – works on unlicensed sites too | As long as the subscription is active |
GAMSTOP is the strongest option if you want to step back from all licensed sites at once. It works automatically and you do not have to resist the temptation to log in – you simply cannot. If you want more flexibility, deposit limits and time-outs let you stay in control on individual sites. Blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker works differently: it blocks gambling sites at the device level, which means it catches unlicensed operators too, but requires you to maintain an active subscription.
GAMSTOP and your business
If gambling is affecting your ability to run your business – whether through time spent, money lost, stress or distraction – GAMSTOP removes one source of temptation. For self-employed people and small business owners, time and focus are tied directly to income. Losing either to gambling can spiral: missed client work, delayed invoicing, skipped admin, damaged reputation.
GAMSTOP does not solve the underlying difficulty, but it does remove the immediate avenue for further harm. Combined with support – whether from a counsellor, your accountant, a trusted business peer or a specialist gambling support service – it can be part of getting back on track.
What to do if GAMSTOP is not enough
GAMSTOP stops you accessing licensed sites, but it does not address why you were gambling in the first place or what you do with the time and money now that you are not. If gambling harm has already touched your business – through missed deadlines, unpaid invoices, damaged supplier relationships or financial loss – you need support beyond the tool itself.
The organisations below offer free, confidential help. They speak to people in your situation regularly and can help you think through what happens next.
GamCare – https://www.gamcare.org.uk – offers support, information and counselling. You can call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week) to talk through what you are experiencing and what support might help.
BeGambleAware – https://www.begambleaware.org – provides free information, tools and resources about safer gambling and where to find help.
Gordon Moody – https://www.gordonmoody.org.uk – offers residential and online treatment programmes for people whose gambling has caused serious harm. This is for people ready to commit to intensive support.
If gambling has caused financial harm that is affecting your business, you might also speak to your accountant or a business advisor about cash flow, creditor communication or restructuring. Gambling harm and business pressure often feed each other – addressing both together works better than trying to fix one alone.
18+. Please gamble responsibly.
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Download PDF: Getting Started with GAMSTOP: A Practical Checklist PDF, 29 KB
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
Can GAMSTOP block gambling sites I access from my phone or tablet?
Yes. GAMSTOP blocks you from all licensed gambling sites regardless of the device you use – phone, tablet, laptop or desktop. It works through the sites' own systems, not through your device.
What happens when my GAMSTOP exclusion ends?
GAMSTOP removes you from the register automatically when your chosen period ends. Licensed sites can then accept new account applications from you. You can register again immediately if you want a fresh exclusion.
If I set GAMSTOP for five years and then change my mind, can I cancel it early?
No. Once your exclusion is active, you cannot shorten it or cancel it early. You can only end it when the full period you chose has passed. This is intentional – it removes the option to make a quick decision you might regret when cravings are strong.
Creative Edge Editorial Team