GAMSTOP, the new national online self-exclusion scheme, would take some more time to be implemented. As reported by The Racing Post, local gambling operators are to be given more time to prepare in order to be in line with the scheme’s requirements, so the official roll-out of GAMSTOP is to be delayed.
Currently, all iGaming companies that want to offer their services in the country need an operating license issued by the UK Gambling Commission under the provisions of the Gambling Act of 2014. In order to protect local customers from the risks associated with compulsive gambling, the Gambling Act has provided a new framework aimed at a nation-wide online self-exclusion scheme.
The new scheme is to give problem gamblers an actual chance to take some measures and prevent themselves from becoming engaged in the variety of online casino and betting activities that are currently available.
The new national self-exclusion scheme was revealed at the beginning of June by the largest iGaming trade association in the world, Remote Gambling Association. The brand has been developed in a way that meets the requirements of the UK Gambling Commission’s License Conditions and Codes of Practice.
GAMSTOP Scheme Delayed by 2018 Spring
The GAMSTOP scheme is to provide customers who suffer from gambling addictions to self-exclude from the services of all online gambling companies who run their activities under an operating license issued by the UK Gambling Commission. The self-exclusion is to be made in a single step and is especially aimed at consumers who heed some help for improving their gambling addictions management skills.
At first, the implementation of the new scheme was planned to be carried out by the end of 2017. Reportedly, now it would be put off until the spring of 2018.
A couple of days ago, when the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sports published its report of the local gambling industry review, it gladly welcomed GAMSTOP as an online gambling self-exclusion option. The DCMS further explained that the new self-exclusion scheme is to be “completed at the earliest opportunity”.
The Need of Online Self-Exclusion Scheme
As reported by The Racing Post, Clive Hawkswood who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Remote Gambling Association said that the RGA wanted to see the scheme running as soon as possible. Still, he reminded that the project was a tech one, so they needed to make sure it ran properly before it is released.
Mr. Hawkswood said that as part of the self-exclusion system of the country, GAMSTOP needs to make sure it provides clear licensing conditions to all operators, which on the other hand need to be given a chance to prepare for the scheme’s implementation. According to him, the additional period would provide companies with the time to do that, and the UK gambling regulator also found that reasonable.
At the time when the Government published its review a couple of days ago, it said that the industry needs to raise players’ awareness of the self-exclusion scheme. The Department for Culture, Media and Sports further shared that the new scheme could also be complemented by other existing responsible gambling tools.
- Author
Daniel Williams
