Is GamStop a Permanent Self Exclusion?

By Simon Wright, Last updated Jul 1, 2023

Here at Casinomeister, we are rightly supporters of responsible gambling and to this extent applaud the introduction of GamStop.

GamStop for those unaware was implemented and setup to allow players to self exclude from all participating UKGC licensed online casinos, poker rooms and sportbetting sites all in one go. Without having the need to manually self exclude from each and every site. With GamStop in essence performing this task for you automatically.

However, a post in our forum today raises a problem with GamStop, which highlights a real concern for players using their services. One of the Casinomeister forum members has created  a thread titled – Gamstop, Operators refusing to open accounts when exclusion ends.

According to the forum poster Pam7122, she is now unable to access her Virgin Games account even though her self exclusion with GamStop has expired. After speaking with support at Virgin Games, she states that they have told her there is no way for them to reopen her account due to the initial block applied by GamStop.

When signing up to GamStop you are  able to choose what time period of self exclusion you wish to enact. This ranges from a minimum period of six months to a maximum of 5 years. All participating gaming companies with GamStop then have to self exclude you. The aim is for all UKGC licensed gaming sites to enrol with GamStop.

So what gives? Is signing up to GamStop a one way ticket to quitting gambling online for ever, as far as UKGC licensed casinos and gaming sites are concerned?

Well according to the rep for the superb Trada Casino ( Incidentally Trada won the Casinomeister Best Casino 2018 Award ), this is not how GamStop works. With the Trada Rep posting the following: “This should not be the case.

You must still be registered as ‘excluded’ on GamStop, so I would suggest talking directly with them.

Every-time you attempt to login at an online casino, a check is run against the GamStop database. If you are excluded the system will automatically block your login. Even if GamStop emailed me and confirmed you are no longer excluded with them, I still would not have the ability to override the automated check. So something must be going wrong on the GamStop side.

I assume you didn’t request to be removed from the register early?”

Is this a case of GamStop still having to iron out a few problems, hence forum poster Pam7122 running into this issue with her Virgin Games account? Or is GamStop really a one way ticket of no return to self exclusion land?

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