Gamstop Remove Exclusion 

By Alex Smith, Last updated Dec 6, 2024

The Gamstop self-exclusion scheme was revolutionary in the UK, allowing players to automatically self-exclude themselves from all UK-licensed online casinos and betting sites from one centralized portal. It’s been a massive help for problem gamblers, but, as with anything in the online gambling world, the Gamstop self-exclusion scheme isn’t perfect – and if you want to know how to reverse Gamstop blocks, or remove Gamstop exclusions once the time has passed, you may be wondering how actually to do so.

Today, we will show you whether you can cancel Gamstop, remove Gamstop blocks – and how the service works at UK betting sites. Firstly, let’s take a look at what the Gamstop self-exclusion scheme is and how it works.

What Is The Gamstop Self-Exclusion Scheme?

Gamstop is an online service in the UK designed to assist individuals in managing their online gambling habits. It acts as a self-exclusion tool, allowing users to block themselves entirely from all UK-licensed online gambling websites from one centralized website – the Gamstop site.

Launched by the National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme Limited, Gamstop is free to use and is recognized by the UK Gambling Commission. This service has been made mandatory for all online gambling websites licensed in the UK, meaning all UK betting sites must check the Gamstop database any time a player signs up.

Gamstop aims to provide a safety net for those who feel their gambling habits may spiral out of control. Creating a centralized system allows users to self-exclude from all participating gambling sites rather than going through the process with each one individually. The main goal here is to promote responsible gambling by providing a tool that users can voluntarily use to limit their access to online gambling.

How To Set Up A Self-Exclusion Period

If you want to enter a Gamstop exclusion, you’ll be pleased to learn it’s a simple process. Below, we will look at the critical steps in setting up a Gamstop self-exclusion and how to set it up.

1. Setting Up an Account: Begin by visiting the Gamstop website. Click on the “Register” button to start setting up your account. You will be asked to provide personal details such as your name, date of birth, email, and address.
2. Verifying Your Identity: Gamstop will need to verify your identity after providing the necessary details. This is done to ensure that the person registering for self-exclusion is indeed the person they claim to be. You must answer some security questions, which Gamstop pulls from your credit report. Note: your credit score will NOT be impacted, and this will not appear on your credit report.
3. Setting a Self-Exclusion Period: Once your identity has been verified, you will be asked to choose a minimum exclusion period. This can range from six months to five years, during which you cannot gamble on any UK-licensed gambling website registered with Gamstop.
4. Confirmation: After setting your self-exclusion period, you will receive an email confirming your registration with Gamstop. This email will also provide details about the exclusion period and what it entails.

Remember, Gamstop is a tool to aid responsible gambling. The decision to self-exclude should be made with serious consideration, understanding that it’s a commitment to abstain from online gambling for a set period. Once you enter into a Gamstop self-exclusion agreement, it is impossible to cancel Gamstop blocks.

The whole point of entering into a self-exclusion program is to ensure you cannot gamble – and any UK casino with a UKGC license cannot offer a Gamstop removal. Gamstop themselves are also unable to stop Gamstop blocks, and there is no way around this.

Can You Cancel Gamstop Blocks?

Regarding whether you can cancel Gamstop scheme blocks, the straight answer is no, you cannot. Once you have chosen a minimum exclusion period and set it into motion, it cannot be reversed or canceled under any circumstances. You cannot opt out of the Gamstop scheme once you’ve opted in, nor can you stop Gamstop blocks until the pre-set time has passed.

This approach stems from Gamstop’s commitment to promoting responsible gambling. The platform is designed to provide a much-needed break from online gambling for those who feel they are losing control. By strictly enforcing the self-exclusion period, Gamstop ensures that users can reassess their gambling habits and make the necessary adjustments for a healthier relationship with online gambling.

If players could remove Gamstop self-exclusion blocks or reverse Gamstop bans, the whole service would be pointless. Of course, the inability to reverse Gamstop blocks may seem harsh to some, but if players could simply stop Gamstop blocks whenever they wanted, it would be of little use in the first place.

How To Remove A Gamstop Exclusion (Once It’s Expired)

Once your self-exclusion period with Gamstop has ended, removing the exclusion is possible but not automatic. In other words, the exclusion will remain in place until you take action.

The first step to removing the exclusion is contacting Gamstop. This can be done via phone or email. They will then go through a series of questions to assess your current situation and ensure you are ready to return to gambling without falling back into potentially harmful patterns.

During this conversation, it’s essential to be honest about your current relationship with gambling. Gamstop’s primary goal is to protect you and ensure your continued well-being. If the Gamstop customer support team feels you may still be at risk of problem gambling, your block may remain active. If so, the Gamstop customer support team will inform you about the Gamstop reverse process once they deem you can gamble again.

If and when the Gamstop customer support team deems you are ready to return to online gambling, they will lift the self-exclusion. However, the removal will take up to 24 hours to be processed. Some online casino sites will also enforce their mandatory cooling-off period. Don’t assume your self-exclusion removal request will enable you to gamble at Gamstop casinos in 24 hours.

UK sites are under more pressure than ever to maintain responsible gambling standards, and gambling addiction is big news. As a result, gambling and sports betting sites sometimes will not let you reopen your account if you’ve used the Gamstop gambling sites block, so always keep this in mind.

Background and History of Gamstop

Gamstop was launched in April 2018 by the National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme Limited, a non-profit organization based in the UK. The creation of the platform was in response to the growing concern over problem gambling and the lack of a centralized system to combat this issue.

Before Gamstop, players struggling with a gambling addiction who wanted to self-exclude themselves from online gambling had to contact each gambling website individually, a time-consuming process. Gamstop revolutionized this process by creating a centralized system where users could self-exclude from all participating online gambling websites at once.

Since its creation, Gamstop has seen significant growth, and all operators in the UK are now required, by law, to work with Gamstop. This was brought back in 2020 when the UK Gambling Commission required all online gambling websites licensed in the UK to register with Gamstop. This decision was a significant milestone, vastly increasing the coverage of Gamstop and making it an even more effective tool for those struggling with their gambling habits.

While Gamstop has received criticism (for example, some players still being able to access their online betting accounts or being able to gamble before their self-exclusion period expires), on the whole, it’s an excellent service.

Reversing Gamstop blocks isn’t possible, even if you contact customer support, and anyone who tells you a Gamstop removal is possible before your self-exclusion time frame has passed is lying to you. What’s more, the Gamstop removal process is designed to ensure problem gamblers can’t find an easy way around Gamstop blocks – and this is why the 24-hour delay is in place.

What Are Non-Gamstop Casinos?

Non-Gamstop casinos are online casinos not registered with the UK’s Gamstop program. This also means that the UKGC does not license them. Non-Gamstop sites are operating illegally and are usually unlicensed and unregulated.

As non-Gamstop casinos are not bound by UKGC regulations, it means that even if you’ve signed up for Gamstop, you can still play casino games on these sites. This might sound appealing, but it’s important to remember that these sites often prey on those with a gambling problem. They use enticing marketing techniques, targeting people searching for terms like ‘casinos, not on Gamstop.’

As they’re unlicensed, there’s no guarantee you’ll receive any money. You may end up unwittingly playing pirated/fake games, and your personal information (including payment method information) may be sold onto the black market.

Non-Gamstop casinos take advantage of those with a gambling problem, advertising themselves as an alternative for people looking for ways to gamble, despite having registered for self-exclusion through the Gamstop scheme. However, it’s important to note that canceling Gamstop isn’t as simple as clicking a button, and removing Gamstop blocks is only possible once the time frame you chose has passed.

In conclusion, you should never play at online casinos that advertise themselves as “not on Gamstop.” Doing so is asking for trouble, and while it may seem like you can resume gambling before your self-excluded time frame has passed, casino brands engaging in this practice are shady, operating illegally – and predatory.

Note from the Meister: we have researched this for years, and those casinos that claim “Not on Gamstop” are mostly Russian owned and are unlicensed. They have pirated software and make their own rules. Affiliates who target players with Not on Gamstop casinos are the parasitic bane of the industry.

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