All about GAMSTOP, responsible gambling, casinos and bookmakers

When Is the Right Time to Use Gamstop?

As you are probably aware, Gamstop is a popular service which is regularly available at online betting
sites. It is predominantly used to self-exclude yourself from not just one casino, but all casinos which are part of the Gamstop program. These cool-down periods can prevent you from getting into serious
trouble when gambling. When is the right to use Gamstop, though? In this short article, we will take a
look and try to help you find the perfect time (if any) to use such a service.

When You Chase Losses

Of course, the biggest giveaway that you may be experiencing gambling trouble is when you start
chasing losses. If you don’t know what this means; it means that you continually deposit more and more
money, in a bid to try and win back what you have lost. If this sounds like you, then you may very well
wish to get yourself signed up to Gamstop.

When You Alter Your Deposit Limits

Another sign that Gamstop might be for you is if you find yourself adjusting your deposit limits. Many
casinos allow players to set deposit limits, in a bid to promote responsible gambling. However, if you
keep asking to adjust your deposit limits, you may find yourself referred to Gamstop. To be fair, many
top UK casinos now stop you from doing this.

When You’re Advised To

There are times when you may find yourself cut off. While a casino seldom directly stops you from
betting by blocking your account, they may recommend that you sign up to Gamstop, or refer you to the
problem gaming platform. While this intervention can ultimately do you a world of good, it might also
see you banned from many sites that you aren’t a member of. Other casinos on Gamstop could choose
to make a note of your name if you are referred to Gamstop, rather than seek Gamstop’s assistance
independently.

When You Check Your History and Don’t Like What You See

It is easy to think that you are not spending that much when betting online. However, if you check your
deposit/wager history (which is easy to do at many modern casinos), you might be surprised to see how
much you’ve spent, compared to how much you’ve won. If you don’t like what you see, this could also
be an excellent reason to head to Gamstop’s website.

UK Betting Sites and Gamstop

Gamstop has a relationship with UK betting sites, bingo sites, poker rooms, sportsbooks and casinos.
The UK Gambling Commission has essentially made it mandatory for any casinos with their licenses to
offer this service. There is no shame in signing yourself up to Gamstop if you need help, but it is crucial
that you seek assistance before you have too big of a problem. Identifying when is the right time to seek
help will save you trouble in the long run, because if you get referred to Gamstop by a casino, there may
be no way back to gambling online later down the line.

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Why Is Gamstop linked to UK Licensed Casinos?

If you are familiar with Gamstop, you will have noticed that more often than not, the problem gambling
platform tends to appear at UK licensed casinos. You might be wondering why this is? Fortunately, it is
not difficult to understand. Throughout this article, we will take a look at why Gamstop is most
commonly associated with UK online casinos, explain to you what it does, and if there is any need for it.

What is Gamstop, and What Does It Do?

If you aren’t familiar with Gamstop, you may be wondering what it is. Gamstop is a problem gambling
platform and one which is commonly found at UK casino sites. Its purpose is to block access to online
casinos for gamblers who are experiencing the effects of gambling addiction. Gamstop requires users to
sign up to it. Once they are, those players will be banned from their own casino and any other casinos
which are a part of Gamstop for a predetermined period of time.

Why is Gamstop Found at UK Casino Sites?

Gamstop is commonly found at UK casino sites. The main reason for this is that the UK Gambling
Commission has deemed it mandatory for online casinos bearing their license to be affiliated with it. The UKGC continually tries to promote responsible gaming, and want to avoid any gambling-related
problems, such as debt, theft, violence and worse, suicide. Gamstop allows players the opportunity to
seek a way out. The UK Gambling Commission has demanded that all online gambling operators who
wish to obtain a license to cater to UK players, must be a part of the program and offer its services.

Gamstop Casinos Can Lose Your License

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission takes its commitment to Gamstop seriously, and it expects
that casinos operating under its licenses do the same. The UKGC has been known to respond rapidly and act somewhat ruthlessly towards any casino who breaches the terms of their license. It wasn’t that long ago that the UKGC revoked the license of two online casinos for failing to maintain their relationship with Gamstop. There are many pieces of regulation which a casino must adhere to, to maintain its license and being a part of Gamstop is one of those.

Does Gamstop Appear at International Casinos?

Gamstop does not tend to appear at online casinos outside of the United Kingdom. It is possible that
international casinos which have multiple licenses (including from the UKGC) may be a part of Gamstop, and thus offer Gamstop services to players based outside of the UK, the charitable organisation does primarily deal with UK players. This is the main reason that Gamstop is most commonly associated with casinos accepting British players, and those licensed out of the UK.

There are, however, plenty of rival services out there which perform similar functions or offer identical
features. If you happen to be based outside of the UK, any of these will work well for you.

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Great Alternatives to Gamstop You Can Use Online

If you have been playing at reputable, UK licensed online casinos; you will no doubt have noticed that
casinos are often tied to Gamstop. The problem gambling platform allows those signed up to it to block
themselves not just from their chosen casino, but all casinos which are a part of the Gamstop family and
network. There is no question that this is beneficial if you happen to be a problem gambler. However,
Gamstop is not the only tool on the market that you can choose to protect yourself from the perils of
problem gambling.

BeGambleAware.org and Other Programs

Gamblers Anonymous and BeGambleAware.org (GambleAware) are other examples of programs which
are linked to online casinos. Many UK casinos are often forced to partner with these independent
charities to maintain (or qualify for) a UK Gambling Commission license. They work in much the same
way. In short, any player who decides to sign up to the (or is referred to them) can block themselves
from any and all casinos attached to the program. Some casinos are members of multiple platforms,
while others may be solely linked to Gamblers Anonymous, BeGambleAware or Gamstop.

In-House Software

There are other options out there which you can use to protect yourself from problem gambling,
though. Some online casinos opt to use in-house software to offer players the chance to seek assistance,
instead of signing up to national programs. Some of the in-house software you can use to limit the risks
of gambling addiction include wagering and deposit limits. Once set, you are not going to be able to
break them.

Some casinos also have proprietary software which allows you to set limits on how long you wish to
play. On top of that, they may also utilise self-exclusion or cool down periods. Unlike national programs, these are only in effect at your chosen casino.

Independent Apps and Browser-Based Blockers

Another option you may wish to explore is independent blockers. These can be installed in your web
browser. Apps such as BlockSite allow you to block access to your online casino during specific periods,
dates and hours. This will stop you from visiting sites when you know you should not. While apps such as that do allow you to change your mind, they do at least serve as a timely reminder before you decide to gamble. Other apps are a lot more restrictive, and once you have set a time, you will not be able to
reverse your decision, with access to blocked sites remaining off-limits until that time limit has passed.

Why Use Something Other Than Gamstop?

Of course, Gamstop has its perks. However, one of the downsides to the program is that you can
sometimes find yourself permanently banned from some casinos. Moreover, you may decide that you
want a bit more control over how, when and where you gamble. For this reason, it is always worth
looking at less restrictive alternatives to Gamstop, and as you can see, there are many such options out
there which are worth exploring.

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Online Casinos Which Are Not a Part of Gamstop

If you are playing in the United Kingdom, it might seem that every online casino is seemingly tied to
Gamstop. However, that is certainly not the case for every casino in the world. There are many online
casinos which are not a part of the Gamstop program. Is it wise to play at a casino which isn’t a member
of the Gamstop family? Why would a casino choose not to be one, and how easy is it to play at non-
Gamstop casinos? In this gambling article, we will attempt to answer these three questions and reveal
all.

Why Would a Casino Not Be a Part of Gamstop?

There are many reasons why an internet casino may not wish to be a part of Gamstop. The most obvious
reason is that it is not licensed out of the United Kingdom. Gamstop is, after all, a UK independent
charity which aims to assist problem gamblers and those suffering from gambling addiction. The UK
Gambling Commission has gone and made it mandatory for all its licensees to partner with Gamstop.
The same is not true for casinos which are not licensed out of the United Kingdom.

At the same time, one reason why an online casino may not be a part of the Gamstop program could be
that it is a dodgy casino. Casinos which are not interested in promoting responsible gaming of any kind,
and have no links to any problem gambler platforms, or in-house software which provides protection to
players are usually best avoided.

Lastly, it could just be that an online casino is not a member of Gamstop because it has its own software.

The best casinos in the business are powerful enough to run their own deposit and wager caps, cool-
down and self-exclusions tools, and, therefore are not reliant on being members of the program. These
casinos arguably go above and beyond what Gamstop offers in terms of care and services towards their
casino players.

How Easy Is It to Find Such Casinos?

Oddly enough, it is relatively easy to find online casinos which are not members of the Gamstop
program. Virtually any casino which is not licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission will fit the bill. Any casinos which are licensed by the UKGC will almost certainly feature Gamstop amongst their affiliated programs and software providers. There is a large number of UK licensed casinos, but the number of non-UK licensed casinos (and thus, non-Gamstop casinos) is larger still.

Should I Play at a Gamstop Casino?

That depends. If you are not concerned about problem gambling, then you can avoid Gamstop casinos
altogether. However, if you want to play at a UKGC licensed casino, you’ll have trouble finding a site
which isn’t a part of the program. Ultimately, though, provided an online casino is licensed, reputable
and has some form of player protection software, either offering deposit and wager caps, self-exclusion
services and similar tools; you do not necessarily need to play at a Gamstop casino.

Visit Gamstop

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