How GamStop Works: Free UK Self-Exclusion Explained
GamStop is a free, national self-exclusion scheme that blocks you from every online gambling site licensed in Great Britain. You register once, pick a minimum period of six months, one year or five years, and during that time every Gambling Commission–licensed operator must refuse to let you gamble or open an account. It is one of the most effective tools available if you want to stop.
What is GamStop?
GamStop is run by a not-for-profit set up at the request of the Gambling Commission. Every operator with a GB licence is legally required to be connected to it. When you self-exclude, your details are matched against new and existing accounts across all those sites, and gambling is blocked. It is different from excluding yourself at a single casino, because it applies everywhere at once.
How to register with GamStop
Registration is free and takes a few minutes at gamstop.co.uk. You provide your name, date of birth, address, email and any other details used for gambling accounts, and you choose your minimum exclusion length. The more contact details you give, the more reliably you are matched, so it is worth being thorough.
What GamStop does and does not cover
- Covers: every online casino, slots, bingo and sportsbook licensed by the Gambling Commission for Great Britain.
- Does not cover: unlicensed offshore sites (often marketed as “non-GamStop”), betting shops and other land-based venues, or lottery terminals. Land-based self-exclusion is handled separately.
“Non-GamStop” sites exist specifically to bypass this protection. They are not licensed in the UK, so they sit outside the Commission’s rules and the independent complaints route. We do not review or link to them, and if you have self-excluded you should not seek them out.
Can you cancel GamStop early?
No. That is the point. Once your exclusion is active it cannot be lifted before your chosen period ends, and even then there is a further cooling-off step before you can gamble again. If you are considering self-exclusion, treat it as a firm commitment to yourself rather than a pause you can reverse on a bad day.
Extra tools to use alongside GamStop
Self-exclusion works best with blocking software on your devices — such as Gamban — and by contacting your bank to switch on a gambling transaction block, which most UK banks now offer. Free, confidential support is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare, 24/7) and at BeGambleAware.
Frequently asked questions
How does GamStop work?
Is GamStop free?
Does GamStop cover every gambling site?
18+. Gambling carries a risk of financial loss. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 or BeGambleAware.org.