The self-exclusion program in the UK, GAMSTOP, reported it has reached a new milestone, with 250,000 individuals registering with the program. This marked a great achievement for the initiative which is striving to reduce gambling-related harms among vulnerable individuals.
According to GAMSTOP, the number of registrants has significantly increased this year, with 67,000 people signing up for the initiative in 2021. Meanwhile, the number of self-excluded users in 2020 was 51,000. The self-exclusion program is a significant part of GAMSTOP’s initiative to protect vulnerable players and ensure a safer gambling environment for people in the UK.
Number of Self-Excluded Players Surges in March, Global Pandemic Partially Responsible for Higher Numbers of Registrations
In addition to 2021 being the year with the highest number of registered players, March of this year was the month with the second-highest registration rate in the history of the program. During that month, 7,000 individuals decided to make use of the self-exclusion tool and registered with GAMSTOP. Data show that about 228,000 of the people who have registered with the program are currently self-excluded and are making use of that tool to avoid gambling-related harms.
In a statement related to news, Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, shared that the company is developing tools that allow easier registration with the program. What is more, GAMSTOP is working on raising their profile so that more consumers are aware of the initiative and can make use of it whenever they need help. According to Palmer, while the highest number of registered users is partially due to GAMSTOP’s work towards reaching more people, the pandemic has also contributed to the high number of people looking to self-exclude themselves.
GAMSTOP to Continue Their Work of Spreading Awareness Among Vulnerable Players
Despite reaching a higher number of users, GAMSTOP’s intend is to continue working towards spreading more awareness and helping even more individuals who may be suffering from gambling-related harms. The company is constantly looking to join forces with new partners, helping the organisation to reach even more people, allowing them to find a way out of gambling thanks to the self-exclusion tool.
Recently, GAMSTOP has been working closely with numerous companies, battling the negative impact of gambling. Gamcare is one of the partners that have been helping GAMSTOP to promote responsible gambling and offer better help to vulnerable individuals. In addition to that, GAMSTOP is also working together with the Northern Gambling Clinic as it is experienced in battling different gambling-related disorders, including gambling addiction.
To spread even more awareness, GAMSTOP has also joined forces with a number of sports clubs like Bolton Wanderers, Brentford FC, and Crystal Palace. These partnerships contribute to a bigger exposure, helping more individuals learn about self-exclusion.
Palmer shared that GAMSTOP has received a great amount of positive feedback, with many users reporting the program having a huge impact on their recovery from gambling-related harms. The positive experience of those users motivated GAMSTOP to continue its work towards helping even a higher number of vulnerable individuals in the upcoming year and spreading more awareness about self-exclusion tools.
- Author
Olivia Cole
