GAMSTOP Saw Record Registrations in 2022

GAMSTOP, the UK’s independent national online gambling self-exclusion scheme, has announced that it had 84,000 registrations in 2022, the highest number since it launched in April 2018.

A total of 341,365 have now signed up to self-exclude from online gambling with GAMSTOP. There has been a 5% increase in signups over the last 6 months when compared to the same period in 2021 and a 6% increase for the past 12 months.

Over the last six months, 24% of users at UK online casinos chose to self-exclude for at least a year, and 48% chose to exclude for five years. The users will remain enrolled in the scheme when the exclusion expires unless they ask to be removed.

In 2022, more than 40% of new users were aged 25 to 34, around 25% were aged 35 to 44, and close to 20% were aged 18 to 24. In a normal month, around 70% of new users are male. However, in August 2022, 34% of new users were female.

Since GAMSTOP went live in 2018, there have been clear seasonal patterns of registrations, with most new users joining in the winter months. However, in Q2 2022, this pattern changed, and the highest number of registrations ever recorded on a single day was 371 on July 1.

Whilst we are unable to single out one factor that has contributed to the rise in registrations at GAMSTOP, it is likely that the current economic climate and affordability of living costs have influenced the decisions people are making about their lifestyles and expenditure. In 2022 we saw more than 80,000 new registrations, which is a positive step towards supporting even more people. However, as we see an increase in the number of those with gambling problems, it’s important we continue to raise awareness amongst friends and family of those who most need it and that we continue to work with bank blocking and other support services to provide a comprehensive solution

Fiona PalmerGAMSTOP CEO