By ensuring people remain safe from the harm of gambling, GambleAware provides information to help players make informed decisions regarding gambling. They help people to recognise and understand the risks associated with gambling. Being the national online self-exclusion scheme in the UK, GAMSTOP is a tool that prevents players from accessing online casino sites in the UK. It is run by The National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme Limited (NOSES), which is a non-profit organisation.
How GAMSTOP works
When you register with GAMSTOP, you’re blocked from online gambling sites that operate within the UK jurisdiction. This service offers users the option of excluding themselves from online gambling for a period of six months, one year or five years. In fact, the UK Gambling Commission recently changed its licence conditions in regard to this scheme. As such, online gambling operators are required to register to the GAMSTOP scheme and offer the service to customers.
How GAMSTOP differs from other self-exclusion schemes
Operated by a government body (NOSES), GAMSTOP is a multi-operator exclusion scheme and prohibits you from accessing all online gambling operators in the UK. Other self-exclusion schemes will only exclude you from gaming products you have chosen and specific gambling sites. If you select ‘All’ Self-Exclusion on a particular betting and gaming site, the action could be applied to accounts you hold with Full Tilt Poker and other PokerStars brands.
All UK-licensed casinos are part of the scheme, but you can still run into casinos not on Gamstop which is open to UK-players. This is why you have to use multiple tools when excluding.
How does GambleAware operate?
Regulated by Scottish Charity Regulator as well as the Charity Commission for England and Wales, GambleAware is fully independent. It also has an agreement framework with the UK Gambling Commission to reduce harms related to gambling. This is done in the context of arrangements depending on voluntary donations from the gambling industry. It’s also a grant-making charity, which commissions treatment and prevention services across the UK in partnership with expert agencies and organizations.
Re-instating from a GAMSTOP exclusion scheme
If you need to reinstate from a GAMSTOP self-exclusion, you’ll be subjected to a 24-hour period. This cool-off period gives you some time in case you need to change your mind with regards to resuming gambling. To re-apply for a multi-operator Self-Exclusion scheme, just contact GAMSTOP. Alternatively, you could discuss the available self-help tools being offered by a particular gambling site by contacting a member of their customer service team.
What causes gambling-related problems?
The cause of gambling problems isn’t quite clear. However, GambleAware has established a relationship between family gambling behaviour, experiencing a big win at an early age, and age of onset of gambling. According to health experts, gambling problems result from the interaction of various psychological, social, and biological factors. Alongside these, people affected by gambling addiction also tend to be drug or alcohol addicts. This is where GambleAware and GAMSTOPS’s impact come into place.
Conclusion
Anyone experiencing any kind of gambling problem should reach out to GambleAware for support. You will receive free, non-judgmental and independent advice regarding your gambling. You can access a wealth of information from gamcare.org.uk or gambleaware.co.uk. You can also access free online resources, support groups, and forums at gamblingtherapy.org or even use their app. Alternatively, you can reach out for help by calling the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 for free.
GAMSTOP makes it quite easy for you to self-exclude yourself from all online gambling sites in one place. You can sign up for GAMSTOP service at www.gamstop.co.uk to ensure you’re in full control. For more information on available self-exclusion options, you can get free, confidential assistance. It could be your gambling issue or someone else’s gambling problem. Just live chat or call and talk to an adviser now via the National Gambling Treatment Service.
