Many people sign up to Gamstop in order to bring a stop to problem gambling habits. By joining the program they are able to self-exclude, in a blanket way, from all casinos and betting sites that are part of the Gamstop program.
Self-exclusion is a decision made, often in the heart of desperation over problem gambling, by people who want to make sure the temptation does not arise for them to return to those habits. And if you take the Gamstop approach, you will be locked out of all UK gambling sites for the duration of the period of your choice.
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Gamstop UK
There’s no doubt that problem gambling is something that needs to be addressed, and to many of its 250,000 members, Gamstop is a vital part of addressing it. However, there are other details that haven’t been mentioned in that brief summary above. These details include the following:
- The shortest self-exclusion period available is six months. You can also self-exclude for a year, or for five years.
- Once your self-exclusion period lapses, you will need to contact Gamstop to have it cancelled. Otherwise they will extend it by seven years, although you can end this automatic extension.
- When you self-exclude, whether for six months, a year, or five years, you cannot at any point during that period have the exclusion cancelled. If you ask for it to be cancelled, you will be reminded that you signed up for full self-exclusion.
- Some Gamstop customers have discovered that even after requesting self-exclusion, they have still been able to gamble at licenced UK sites. When reporting this, they are told that Gamstop have made it clear that customers promise upon signing up that they won’t try to gamble.
Many people have found that after a brief period of self-exclusion, during which time other problems can be dealt with and their overall position improved, they no longer need the protection offered by Gamstop. But, as per the points above, they cannot end their self-exclusion no matter what explanation they offer for no longer needing it. So they are left wondering how to get around Gamstop when it comes to playing their preferred casino games. What can they do to ensure that they are able to place bets again?
How to get around Gamstop
The key point from the introduction, then, is that Gamstop is a total and all-encompassing solution that cannot be revoked. If you feel that your betting has got out of control and you desperately need help, you might well sign up and say “just to make sure, I’ll take the five-year exclusion”. If, after a month of not playing at casinos or making bets, you feel that you have moved on from the situation in which your gambling was a problem, you will still be excluded for the next four years and eleven months. That’s 59 months in which, no matter what you might say or feel, you will not be able to convince Gamstop to lift the exclusion.
And let’s be honest here, that’s probably how it should be. Anyone who knows anything about compulsive habits knows that someone who is addicted will say or do anything to convince others that they’re fine now. If Gamstop relented and let people bet again because they said they didn’t need the exclusion period anymore, the practice of self-exclusion would be pointless. It would last as long as a person’s willpower not to gamble. And if human willpower were always that strong, Gamstop itself would be unnecessary.
Many people, though, will not need those protections, and that’s why we have so many people wondering how to cancel Gamstop. Rather than facing several months or even years being unable to enjoy betting on sports, or playing casino games, they want an alternative to their current situation. You can look, and look, on the program’s own website and you will not find any advice or guidance on how to remove Gamstop. And there is one good reason for this:
You can’t reverse Gamstop.
It’s there, it can’t be removed, and if you google how to reverse Gamstop, you won’t find any instructions on how to take it down. You gave over all control in this matter when you clicked “Confirm” and began your period of self-exclusion. That’s how it works. So what’s left?
How to cancel Gamstop?
If you read again through the paragraph above, you might have noticed that when we talk about Gamstop barring you from betting, we specify that they only bar you from UK online casinos and betting sites. Signing up with Gamstop does not mean you are fully excluded from gambling and that’s it. You can absolutely bypass Gamstop, you just need to know how. And we’re going to help you with this, by handing out some invaluable advice below.
1. Join sites that aren’t a part of Gamstop
The internet is wide and expansive, and it goes beyond the borders of the UK. That means that there are many casinos out there that don’t get their licence from the UK Gambling Commission. If they’re not licensed by the UKGC, they aren’t on Gamstop. And if they aren’t on Gamstop, then even if you are self-excluded for another 59 months by Gamstop, there are plenty of sites that you can be more than happy to sign up at.
Only UK casinos and betting sites are licensed by the UKGC. So every casino that is used by bettors outside of the UK is a casino that is not on Gamstop. And unless you’re prepared to think that only UK casinos and betting sites are good enough to play in – which would be an odd assumption – there are plenty of sites that you can still enjoy even when you’re on Gamstop.
2. Register in someone else’s name
We said “7 ways”, we didn’t say they were all good ways, and there’ll be another bad one along shortly. Many of the people excluded from UK sites by Gamstop, when wondering how to avoid Gamstop, hit upon the idea of signing up with someone else’s details – because it is only the signee’s own details that are blocked. This is a very bad idea indeed, for many reasons. Firstly, you’d need to find a site that accepts anonymous payment methods, and few of those are on Gamstop. Alternatively, you’d also need to use this someone else’s payment card, which is fraud even when they say you can do it. Finally, if you use this method without the other person’s permission, you’re committing a crime against them.
3. Go to a land-based casino or betting shop
If you’re excluded from UK online betting providers, then one way around the ban is to take things offline. People did it all the time before online betting became a thing, so if you’re wondering how to cancel Gamstop, one alternative is to go to a betting source that isn’t affected by Gamstop. Gamstop is online-only, so even if you are banned from a specific online bookmaker, there is nothing to stop you from walking into a branch of that bookmaker in your nearest town centre and making the same bet there. Although with both betting shops and casinos, you may find that the odds are slightly worse – and they don’t have special bonus offers, either.
4. Wait for the ban to expire
If you’re only banned for a certain amount of time, and you find yourself wanting to get back into the betting world, there is always the option of waiting it out. Maybe that would be the better choice; after all, if a few months away has helped you get a handle on your problem, maybe a few more months would make that even firmer? That being said, this isn’t much of a solution for people who have years left on their exclusion – and in any case, this isn’t a way around Gamstop. You’re looking for how to get around Gamstop, not let it do exactly what it is designed to do.
5. Register at a crypto casino
There are increasing numbers of casinos and betting sites that operate using cryptocurrencies, and some of them are genuinely excellent casinos. When you bet at a crypto betting site, you can usually have an anonymous account, and never need to give any details about yourself – just the information to deposit from and withdraw to your crypto wallet. These betting sites are, almost exclusively, located offshore, so they won’t be on Gamstop. Be aware, though, that the price of crypto can be volatile, and you could make a bet, watch it win, and then see that your winnings are less than the amount you initially staked.
6. Find an unlicensed casino or betting site
Once again, Gamstop only blocks you from playing at UK-licensed casinos and betting sites. So if you’re looking at how to bypass Gamstop, as we have said, you could bet at a site that is licensed elsewhere. Or, you could bet at a casino that doesn’t have a licence? Kudos to anyone who came here from point 2 and is now saying: “This. This is the bad idea they were talking about.”
Under absolutely no circumstances should you ever bet at an unlicensed casino. A licence is what legally prevents a casino from just taking your money and pretending it never had anything to do with you. If a casino has decided not to get a licence, it’s not too big a leap to assume that they’re considering disappearing with your money. And it’s illegal, so even if they get caught and have to give up their assets, there’s little chance that money is finding its way back to you.
7. Use a VPN to bet elsewhere
This is an option, but almost as stupid as points 2 and 6. Yes, there are casinos and betting shops in other jurisdictions which only allow people from those jurisdictions to bet. And yes, a VPN does allow you to pretend that you’re in another jurisdiction. So if you want to bet at an Italian bookmaker, you could use a VPN to pretend you’re currently in Italy. That being said, first of all you’ll need to give an address that is in Italy and a phone number that works in Italy, and assuming you can accurately falsify that, you may be allowed to bet for a while.
But you should know that the betting site can see your IP, and if you’re using a VPN you won’t have an individualised IP, so it’s really easy to tell when you’re doing this, you will be banned from the site, and there is every chance that you won’t get your money back, because you broke the law to play at the casino.
How to get around Gamstop Self Exclusion, and why
There should not be a question of removing Gamstop or somehow damaging it, and this article is not a case for getting rid of Gamstop. As we have said, it performs a useful service and, even as totalising and imperfect as it is, it will be a way for some people to break the hold that a gambling addiction can have over them. Seeing that some people have taken their own lives due to gambling debt, it’s no exaggeration to say that Gamstop has saved lives, so we’re not going to trash them. What we are going to do is allow people to see that there is a world beyond Gamstop. So this is not about how to cancel Gamstop or how to remove Gamstop as a whole, just to show reformed problem gamblers how they can bet before Gamstop will let them do it in the UK.
3 reasons we’re showing you how to bypass Gamstop
When you make the move to non-Gamstop casinos, it’s not just about betting at sites while you’re self-excluded. Moving to sites not on Gamstop has other benefits, which are real and present even if you aren’t registered with Gamstop.
A new way to experience betting and casinos
When you play exclusively at UK casinos, you’ll get an exclusively UK betting experience. From one betting site to the next, you’ll see the same games, the same markets, and often the same odds. Playing at a casino that isn’t based in the UK, and may not be aimed at UK customers, allows you to find new games and new elements to the betting experience. You may also find that an American-facing casino even has longer odds on some UK-based events, because odds have been set with an American perspective in mind.
Greater anonymity
If you bet at no-ID casinos or crypto betting sites, you’ll have to give up less of your own personal information – sometimes none at all. In an age in which we are all trying to be more information-secure, this is important. It’s pretty standard when you sign up for anything using your personal information, that such information can then be sold on, and you start receiving calls and targeted post regarding things you have absolutely no interest in. If you’re not giving out that data, then it can’t fall into the wrong hands.
Better bonuses and promotions
Very often, the betting sites and casinos in the UK offer bonuses and promotions to compete with their local rivals for the time and custom of keen bettors. And these offers are great – more money to bet with is better than less, right? But UK betting sites are often attached to land-based bookmakers and casinos that have big overheads, and they tend to be more cautious with their offers to ensure the books balance. When you know how to avoid Gamstop, you can find new sites with better offers and promotions, often independent sites which don’t have land-based businesses to support.
2 reasons knowing how to avoid Gamstop requires caution
Very few things in this world are uncomplicatedly good or uncomplicatedly bad, and the same is true of sites not on Gamstop. They certainly have advantages such as the above, but this doesn’t mean they are without their flaws, and it is important to bear that in mind. Here, for example, are some of the reasons you need to be careful when it comes to figuring out how to cancel Gamstop.
Negative financial impacts
Whenever and wherever you bet, there is a chance that you will lose. In fact, the way betting works is that you are generally more likely to lose than you are to win significant amounts. So in its way, Gamstop can certainly save you money. The flipside of that is that when you find out how to get around Gamstop, you will then open up the realistic possibility that you will lose money. You need to be careful and impose a stop-loss limit on yourself, only ever gambling money that you can afford to lose. And when you treat every win as an unexpected bonus, you can learn to treat won money in that way too, banking the windfall and protecting against negative financial experiences.
The risk of addiction
If you only take one message away from all of this, please let it be that figuring out how to remove Gamstop should never be used as a way to feed or calm a gambling addiction. If you’re thinking “just one more bet”, and need to know how to reverse Gamstop in order to make that bet, it’s not a valid use of non Gamstop betting alternatives. The risk of addiction and compulsive behaviour exists because betting (and alcohol, and shopping, etc.) exists. If you are betting at these sites, please do not get the impression that there is no way to stop or exclude yourself. Every one of the sites we advocate using has an option to contact the casino itself for self-exclusion.
8 great sites that get you around Gamstop
There are many sites out there that you can bet on if you are excluded through Gamstop, and they include some very good ones and some very bad ones. In this way, they’re not that dissimilar from sites that are on Gamstop. There are good and bad sites on there, too.
Here are some sites where you can bet while you are on Gamstop. If you’ve spent time wondering how to bypass Gamstop, registering with these sites is a definite option:
Red Lion Casino
A great-looking new casino that offers a great welcome bonus and lots of the best slots from the most respected developers in the online betting world. Great customer services, too.
Platinum Club Casino
This is a casino that offers a refined look and exudes class. It helps that there is a wide collection of things to bet on, including casino games, live casino and sports.
Slots Dreamer
One of the newest casinos on the Non Gamstop casino block, Slots Dreamer brings brilliant games, in huge numbers. There’s also a sportsbook and excellent customer service.
Slots N Bets
Perhaps the best twin casino and sportsbook of the lot, this site gives you the chance to enjoy brilliant bonuses on both sides of the divide. A really easy site to navigate, too.
Royal Oak Casino
Taking the chance to play at this casino means you’ll have an opportunity to discover the best games from more than forty of the internet’s best gaming developers. It’s worth finding how to avoid Gamstop just to play here.
Harry’s Casino
Getting around Gamstop means having the opportunity to give this superb casino a go, so it’s well worth the effort. Harry’s offers thousands of slots, many of which are new, independent titles.
Hustles Casino
With innumerable games and a cracking live casino, Hustles is one of those sites that you’ll keep coming back to again and again. One of the most popular non Gamstop casinos.
Damslots
Launched in July 2022, Damslots has quickly become a go-to for casino fans figuring out how to bypass Gamstop. This is due in no small part to its great games, which come from NetEnt and Microgaming among others.
FAQ on How to get around Gamstop
So, the above has probably shone some light on how Gamstop works and, as a result, how to bypass Gamstop when you want to. If you still have any questions, check among the list below to find answers to them.
Is there any way to switch off Gamstop?
No, when you sign up you agree to give them permission to block you from all online betting sites under their umbrella for the specified period. And that’s exactly what they will do – you could plead with them, shout at them, whatever you do, they will ensure that the block remains in place for the duration agreed, because that’s their job.
Is there a simple way around Gamstop?
Yes, extremely simple. The answer to how to get around Gamstop really isn’t complicated: you can simply bet with sites that are not signed up to the service. There are many online casinos and betting sites that serve UK customers and are not on Gamstop. We’ve listed some here, and there are many others.
I’ve found a UK casino that isn’t on Gamstop. Should I sign up?
No, you definitely shouldn’t. If you have indeed found a UK casino that is not part of Gamstop, you have found an unlicensed casino, and you should stay well away from it, because no good can come of betting there. We’re serious about this, there is no “nudge, wink” in this point. Unlicensed casinos are not to be played at, they’re a great way to lose money without ever having bet a penny.
What happens when my Gamstop exclusion period ends?
At the end of your Gamstop exclusion period, you will not automatically be able to bet at Gamstop-affiliated sites again. You will need to contact Gamstop and say “my six months/year/five years are up, and I would like to be included at betting sites again”. They will then communicate this to all of the sites that you had been excluded from, and after a brief period for that information to cascade you will be able to bet again at online casinos and bookmakers.
Will Gamstop bar me from betting everywhere?
No, Gamstop will bar you only from betting online at UK-licensed sites. You can still bet at betting shops, although if you want to self-exclude from those, there are options including SENSE which will help you with that. You can also bet at non-UK sites, such as ones that are licensed in Curacao or Malta. There are many ways you can still bet – although if you want that not to be the case, you can contact any non-UK site of which you are a member and request exclusion.
Will Gamstop still work if I change my address?
If you register a new account at a site, with a new address, it is possible that some casinos and betting sites will allow you to bet, but we wouldn’t count on it. For one thing, you generally have to give your date of birth to register at a betting site, and unless you give a false date of birth – which is illegal – you’ll most likely be picked up by the software and be blocked. You’ll need to prove your date of birth in order to withdraw from any casino or betting site, so don’t consider this as a way around things. Also, betting sites do track IPs, so if you give a false address to trick them, it may be flagged that way. In short, don’t try to trick Gamstop. It will only make things worse, and may be a sign of compulsive gambling.