GAMSTOP Is Now Live

[AnnaTS]

I have officially just signed up to Gamstop this morning, I don't really have a gambling problem, I can stop but because i want to save 10k in 2 years, I just wanted to sign up in case i ever get the temptation when i am bored at home because that's usually when i play slots when i am bored, I just wish they did a 2 year exclusion because they only do 6 months, 1 year and 5 years and i think 5 years is too much for me, Would have been nice if you could sign up and choose your own length of time or at least had an option in between the 1 year and 5 year option, So i ended up signing up for a year and then i will have to sign up for another year when that runs out.

 

[TheSam469]

I have officially just signed up to Gamstop this morning, I don't really have a gambling problem, I can stop but because i want to save 10k in 2 years, I just wanted to sign up in case i ever get the temptation when i am bored at home because that's usually when i play slots when i am bored, I just wish they did a 2 year exclusion because they only do 6 months, 1 year and 5 years and i think 5 years is too much for me, Would have been nice if you could sign up and choose your own length of time or at least had an option in between the 1 year and 5 year option, So i ended up signing up for a year and then i will have to sign up for another year when that runs out.

Gamstop is based on current UKGC rules regarding exclusion. Thus, that's the amount of time you can choose.

 

[Mr Wild]

And here lies a serious problem, in my eyes. If you were to play at one of these casinos and hit a big win, would they mysteriously find the SE request at GamStop, confiscate your win and then proceed to SE you?

Sounds like you have encountered similar problems to me when I signed up. It certainly is having teething problems it would seem. I refused to send in further documents and forms when requested as my online registration appeared to go through as some casino sites blocked my access, so it did have some success. However, not all casino accounts were blocked as supposedly GamStop failed to return a reply to say I should be SE from them, thus allowing my account to remain open. Far too many glitches and like you say, all a bit disappointing.

I believe you would keep your winnings.

Gamstop is not a free service for the operators. They need to pay between £2,500 - £350,000 yearly for their services depending size of business. So they clearly have the financials to deliver a good service, which they dont and they put all liablities on the player that self-exclude. When you self-exclude you agree not to try to sign in or register with any casinos, if you do try, then you breach their terms and conditions.

 

[Nicola]

I have officially just signed up to Gamstop this morning, I don't really have a gambling problem, I can stop but because i want to save 10k in 2 years, I just wanted to sign up in case i ever get the temptation when i am bored at home because that's usually when i play slots when i am bored, I just wish they did a 2 year exclusion because they only do 6 months, 1 year and 5 years and i think 5 years is too much for me, Would have been nice if you could sign up and choose your own length of time or at least had an option in between the 1 year and 5 year option, So i ended up signing up for a year and then i will have to sign up for another year when that runs out.

Glad to hear, wise decision IMO

Heard a lot of stories recently from new babies on the way to moving house for the reason for using GAMSTOP. The option of stopping the temptation in a simple process is life-changing.

 

[slotter999]

I believe you would keep your winnings.

Gamstop is not a free service for the operators. They need to pay between £2,500 - £350,000 yearly for their services depending size of business. So they clearly have the financials to deliver a good service, which they dont and they put all liablities on the player that self-exclude. When you self-exclude you agree not to try to sign in or register with any casinos, if you do try, then you breach their terms and conditions.

Blimey... that's a lot of money for the service. I had intended to take a look at the company accounts once it's been up and running for a while to try and determine how much they were turning over. Am I correct in thinking the company behind it effectively have a monopoly on a national self exclusion service in the UK or am I mistaken? Nice business if you can get it I suppose.

 

[RichyJ75]

Blimey... that's a lot of money for the service. I had intended to take a look at the company accounts once it's been up and running for a while to try and determine how much they were turning over. Am I correct in thinking the company behind it effectively have a monopoly on a national self exclusion service in the UK or am I mistaken? Nice business if you can get it I suppose.

There are no accounts registered yet and next set of accounts are due by 31/08/18

Currently 4 directors all registered at 31 Southampton Row in London, which coincidentally is a Regus rented office space building, so more of a 'virtual office'.

It certainly appears like a monopoly for this service, so based on that I wonder if the directors have interests or persuasive powers elsewhere? These directors are:

Melanie Blake
Clive Hawkswood
Christopher Hobbs
Roger Parkes

 

[brianmon]

There are no accounts registered yet and next set of accounts are due by 31/08/18

Currently 4 directors all registered at 31 Southampton Row in London, which coincidentally is a Regus rented office space building, so more of a 'virtual office'.

It certainly appears like a monopoly for this service, so based on that I wonder if the directors have interests or persuasive powers elsewhere? These directors are:

Melanie Blake
Clive Hawkswood
Christopher Hobbs
Roger Parkes

Not a lot showing at Companies House
beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10504973/officers

 

[deaconk78]

just signed up as i constantly gamble what i can not afford to lose - exclude from one casino and i just find another . Time to stop and follow my own advice .

 

[RichyJ75]

Well, at 5.24pm last Thursday 26th April 2018 I completed the GamStop forms to take a 6 month 'vacation' from gambling as I have accounts scattered amongst many casinos and although I enjoy the slots and do find it fun, I found myself getting into some bad habits so as a matter of being sensible, opted for this potentially drastic action to ensure I don't have a problem long term.

So, is it what it should be? Pretty much does what it should do, but:

1. I have found 3 accounts not affected by signing up to GamStop. Very small deposit limits in place at each site, although I may consider doing manual SE on these to tie up with the GamStop one and knock it all on the head for 6 months.
2. If the GamStop only affects accounts at casinos under a UKGC licence, surely a problem gambler would only sign up to a RTG casino which isn't governed by the UKGC but still accepts UK players?
3. Most alarmingly, I was still receiving promotional e-mails from a site earlier this week which was a participant at GamStop, despite the exclusion being in place. I then log on to see whether the account was active, which it was. Tried a deposit and it was accepted even though it was almost a week after opting for the SE.

So, there are loopholes, not 100% casino membership yet and even though a casino has participated in the scheme it appears certain structures are not in place in order to activate the SE request. What happens in these circumstances? Should any withdrawal be honoured or would it be confiscated as the account should have been blocked under the self exclusion signed up for at GamStop a week previous? I have contacted customer services at the casino in question (Videoslots) who say they have now blocked my account and forwarded my e-mail somewhere.

Now for 6 months to break habits and routine! Thankfully I am able to leave it without regrets and no debts, but I shall return (in moderation!).

Well, as at 5.24pm 26th October my 6 month self exclusion at Gamstop expired. I have just contacted GamStop to ask them to cease excluding me from casinos as the exclusion continues even though the exclusion period has expired.

It seems it isn't easy to cease the exclusion as they need to refer it to Head Office and I will get an e-mail to complete and return some time in the next 24 hours! We will wait and see.

 

[RichyJ75]

It seems I need to send them a picture of me holding my photographic evidence (driving licence). Seriously? Do I need to smile, strike a pose or blow a kiss as well? The photo on my licence was when I used to commute by motorbike so clippered off my hair down to a number 1 or 2 grade (to eliminate helmet perm) whereas I now have hair and designer (also known as 'lazy man') stubble, so look nothing like the pic. Oh well, what fun. I am sure they only request this to take the piss out of people posing with their ID!