Gamstop, operators refusing to re-open accounts when self-exclusion ends

[KillerSteve]

I have had a similar issue With Gamstop. Written to gamstop and told them to remove all my personal data from their systems under GDPR. This to include anything that says I used them under a contract. Their privacy notice and their alleged t&cs are fatally flawed. it states in their privacy notice in one section that only a yes/no is sent by automated means to gambling operators and then in another section that yes/no/was previously excluded. once the self exclusion has ended, their alleged contract is terminated, and there is no reason for them to hold the personal data except a marker to say that I have asked them to stop processing my personal data. I will be doing some sign ups to gambling to test that they have removed by data and if not will see them in court in due course.

 

[Slottery]

It's quite easy to detect. Postcode and surname checks alongside age verification would cut out 95% of SE customers getting round blocks.

Been lately playing around with verification tools and some services where you can find quite a lot information about people (all paid services, not sure which all sources they use to collect data but full backround report is quite extensive and also cost quite a lot much each so for sure not to be very commonly used except you really have your reasons), finding out that people addresses are not that great up to date and discrepancies between different databases are quite common which could be bit problem.

Would still go with full name, gender, date of birth, even that shouldn't make too many false matches, that could be easily extended to address parts that if there is identical hit with name and dob, BUT both persons exist in different addressed it could pass as well.

When seeing these Gamstop failures, it seems that very high percent is done with purpose to circumvent it, phone and email could really be totally removed from whole thing, they just are not very accurate to verify people at the time of pre-paids.

Think it helps only (and a lot) when UK get to stage to use Bank-ID for verification, your KYC done all at once without sending any pictures and it's much stronger than pictures. Then if only using bank accounts for deposits, things get much easier for player and casino both and your self-exclusion in national database is connected to your own personal unique number which can't really be circumvented, except using other persons identity which then is clear fraud already again.

 

[colinsunderland]

Been lately playing around with verification tools and some services where you can find quite a lot information about people (all paid services, not sure which all sources they use to collect data but full backround report is quite extensive and also cost quite a lot much each so for sure not to be very commonly used except you really have your reasons), finding out that people addresses are not that great up to date and discrepancies between different databases are quite common which could be bit problem.

Would still go with full name, gender, date of birth, even that shouldn't make too many false matches, that could be easily extended to address parts that if there is identical hit with name and dob, BUT both persons exist in different addressed it could pass as well.

When seeing these Gamstop failures, it seems that very high percent is done with purpose to circumvent it, phone and email could really be totally removed from whole thing, they just are not very accurate to verify people at the time of pre-paids.

Think it helps only (and a lot) when UK get to stage to use Bank-ID for verification, your KYC done all at once without sending any pictures and it's much stronger than pictures. Then if only using bank accounts for deposits, things get much easier for player and casino both and your self-exclusion in national database is connected to your own personal unique number which can't really be circumvented, except using other persons identity which then is clear fraud already again.

The thing is, auto checks are open to abuse. If I'm on Gamstop and my name is Colin Sunderland, then I want to get round gamstop, I sign up using all my correct details, except my name is Col Sunderland, or Colin Snderland, Colin Sunderlan - easily excused as a typo. What can't be manipulated is the Royal Mail database. If my postcode is NE32 1AZ, you type it in, and it bring up the list of addresses to select from. The user has no control over that. So even if you select a different house number, unless you change your name & DOB, in which case most people know they wouldn't get paid if they did, then it would pick it up.

 

[Slottery]

The thing is, auto checks are open to abuse. If I'm on Gamstop and my name is Colin Sunderland, then I want to get round gamstop, I sign up using all my correct details, except my name is Col Sunderland, or Colin Snderland, Colin Sunderlan - easily excused as a typo. What can't be manipulated is the Royal Mail database. If my postcode is NE32 1AZ, you type it in, and it bring up the list of addresses to select from. The user has no control over that. So even if you select a different house number, unless you change your name & DOB, in which case most people know they wouldn't get paid if they did, then it would pick it up.

Just seem to be finding quite many discrepancies in players addresses which are not fully up to date in any database. Guess it's not gonna be even almost bulletproof before UK get bank id:s in use (and in Sweden where these are in use, there are surprisingly many cases where somebody have borrowed somebody else identity, think here were at least some thread where partners details were used and surprisingly other part of couple was blocked in Spelpaus...).

It can't really be made idiot-proof, you always find way to get around these when you really want to gamble, with help with some other person if nothing else don't work out. Think that much responsibility could be left to players to spell their names correctly, use their correct DOB and address including postcode, otherwise only way start to be lock people in prison to prevent them from gambling.

Only way to control it feels to be (like some have mentioned here) get help and cut your access to money. Somebody with so severe addiction really can't rely only to self-exclusion tools.

 

[colinsunderland]

Just seem to be finding quite many discrepancies in players addresses which are not fully up to date in any database. Guess it's not gonna be even almost bulletproof before UK get bank id:s in use (and in Sweden where these are in use, there are surprisingly many cases where somebody have borrowed somebody else identity, think here were at least some thread where partners details were used and surprisingly other part of couple was blocked in Spelpaus...).

It can't really be made idiot-proof, you always find way to get around these when you really want to gamble, with help with some other person if nothing else don't work out. Think that much responsibility could be left to players to spell their names correctly, use their correct DOB and address including postcode, otherwise only way start to be lock people in prison to prevent them from gambling.

Only way to control it feels to be (like some have mentioned here) get help and cut your access to money. Somebody with so severe addiction really can't rely only to self-exclusion tools.

yes but players know if they change their details they will have a job to get paid. Missing a letter off a surname or something can work but it's risky.
A way round automated checks is to play with the address, so if the address is

10 Any street, Any town, NE32 1AZ

then to avoid an automated check picking it up, you enter the address as

1 0 Any street, Any town, NE32 1AZ
10 Any street, Any town, NE 32 1AZ
10 Any street, Any town, NE3 21AZ

That way you can genuinely say the address was correct, just the spacing wrong.
Using the royal mail database (which costs less than a penny a search, despite what some reps have previously claimed) it stops that happening.

I would suggest it would be rare for 2 SE'd players to live in the same postcode area (its on average about 16 properties I believe), let alone 2 with the same name or DOB. If a postcode hit was made, the casino could request ID before allowing a deposit. That would stop most people getting round gamstop. Of course that would cause a drop in income therefore the casinos won't rush to implement that.

 

[Brotarcro389]

I signed up to Gamstop for a year, my exclusion is up, i have waited for the cooling period to end and now it says on my Gamstop account that it has removed. But I can't get into any of my casino sites. Does anyone know which ones I can go on without any trouble? T.i.a

 

[dunover]

I signed up to Gamstop for a year, my exclusion is up, i have waited for the cooling period to end and now it says on my Gamstop account that it has removed. But I can't get into any of my casino sites. Does anyone know which ones I can go on without any trouble? T.i.a

Such is the paranoia amongst UKGC licensed casinos regarding responsible gambling that you'll find 90% will be very reluctant to reopen old accounts, if they do it'll likely be with stringent phone interviews or other checks and then with a minimal deposit limit imposed. With huge fines nowdays, it simply doesn't pay operators to re-enlist ex-gamstop persons, whether you had accounts with them before or not. The fact they will all be aware you've been on gamstop in the first place makes you a potentially toxic customer.

 

[Brotarcro389]

Such is the paranoia amongst UKGC licensed casinos regarding responsible gambling that you'll find 90% will be very reluctant to reopen old accounts, if they do it'll likely be with stringent phone interviews or other checks and then with a minimal deposit limit imposed. With huge fines nowdays, it simply doesn't pay operators to re-enlist ex-gamstop persons, whether you had accounts with them before or not. The fact they will all be aware you've been on gamstop in the first place makes you a potentially toxic customer.

 

[Brotarcro389]

Thank you.

 

[Mark_Lottomart]

Such is the paranoia amongst UKGC licensed casinos regarding responsible gambling that you'll find 90% will be very reluctant to reopen old accounts, if they do it'll likely be with stringent phone interviews or other checks and then with a minimal deposit limit imposed. With huge fines nowdays, it simply doesn't pay operators to re-enlist ex-gamstop persons, whether you had accounts with them before or not. The fact they will all be aware you've been on gamstop in the first place makes you a potentially toxic customer.

As always dunover provides a realistic explanation.

I’ve worked for a few operators, in the past we had issues unblocking accounts that were previously flagged as Gamstop due to the way the platform handled it. Right now at Lottomart we have taken the safer approach and will allow it with limitations.

If you’ve previously Gamstopped and join us, we will apply deposit restrictions until we can ascertain your personal circumstances.

If you had Gamstopped or Self Excluded with us we need to understand your situation with regards to affordability before we will reopen your account.

Historically the frustration was with operators blanket banning the return but that was a technical issue (IMO) - I hope everyone on here agrees a manual review of circumstances should be done and appropriate limits set.

Mark

 

[justdoit]

I signed up to Gamstop for a year, my exclusion is up, i have waited for the cooling period to end and now it says on my Gamstop account that it has removed. But I can't get into any of my casino sites. Does anyone know which ones I can go on without any trouble? T.i.a

All british Yakocasino Videoslots Mr Vegas Lottomart pokerstarts skyvegas Mr Q etc, rest will remove you from free offers like partycasino bet365 betvictoria etc, some casinos will treat you as problem gambler even if you take year off from gambling, so don't go mad and make large deposit or multi deposit on same casino, join gamstop to take brake is worst thing you can do, now you will get calls from GP banks to help you on problem gambling even if you not problem gambler, one thing you should do ask gamstop to deleted your data...some casinos will ask you to get prove from gamstop you date is expired, some they all read know they will reopen your old account without any issues,
most casinos will give you low deposit limits only Pokerstars Skyvegas they do limits by age , under 25 you get like £300-£500pm over 35 year old you get like £1600 pm up to £10k
I recommend to start on Allbritish Lottomart VS or MrVegas, they do great C/S on forum, not the best RTP but that what you get on UKGC casinos

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