GAMSTOP records 12% Year on Year growth in first half of 2023

By Dave Sawyer, Last updated Aug 1, 2023

The UK’s online self-exclusion scheme, GAMSTOP, has recorded a 12% year-on-year increase in sign-ups in the first half of 2023.

More than 48,000 consumers registered for the scheme in the first six months of the year, choosing to exclude themselves from all licensed online gambling sites. In March, GAMSTOP recorded its biggest ever month for sign-ups and a new monthly record was then set in May.

The data for the first half of 2023 highlighted a 30% growth in the number of 16–24-year-olds signing up for the scheme, representing 21% of new registrants. Research published by GAMSTOP and the education charity, YGAM in January, found that one in four students who gamble may be experiencing harm and one in two say that gambling has affected their university experience.

Data for the first half of 2023 shows that 50% of new registrants chose to exclude themselves for five years, the maximum period available. There was a 71%-29% male/female split in new registrants, which is consistent with the all-time trends.

More than 390,000 people have registered with GAMSTOP since its inception five years ago, excluding themselves from all UK operators for a period of either six months, a year or five years.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, said: “Today’s data shows the continuing importance of GAMSTOP in helping consumers to protect themselves from gambling harm. At our Parliamentary reception in June to mark GAMSTOP’s fifth anniversary, we heard the moving stories of some of those who have benefitted from the scheme.”

“This data puts those stories and lived experiences into a wider context and shows that self-exclusion is an increasingly important tool for anyone trying to take a break from gambling.”

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