GamStop, the industry self-exclusion scheme designed to combat problem gambling, has released it’s first update, showing that 38,000 registrations have been secured in just the first six months of operation.
What is GamStop?
GamStop offers players the opportunity to self-exclude from all gambling websites in the UK with a single registration.Up until the creation of GamStop, players had to self-exclude from sites or networks individually, which was time-consuming, and also dangerous for the players themselves, GamStop seeks to take away that issue, and make self-exclusion simple.Players can choose to self-exclude for one of three lengths of time, six months, one year, or five years, and the service is free to use.The service also works alongside Gamcare and the National Debtline, two organisations staffed by those trained to offer advice and support for people suffering from debt, or other gambling related harm, with players who register for GamStop being given all the necessary information in order to know who to contact.The effectiveness of GamStop relies heavily on operators, and with the majority of gambling companies having been fully integrated by this point, that effectiveness is already at a high level.It is clear from the number of registered players that GamStop is necessary, and a service that has already proven useful for nearly 40,000 players.
What’s next?
Constantly evolving is important for an organisation like GamStop, and Chief Executive, Fiona Palmer, spoke of the work being done to improve, saying:“We are very pleased with the response to GAMSTOP so far as the initial uptake proves there is clearly a need for this scheme.”“We will shortly be embarking on our first phase of evaluation which will help shape future improvements and enhancements to the service going forward.”