Gamstop has lauded its ‘significant milestone’ as it reveals that more than 250,000 people have elected to self-exclude from online gambling.
Over the scheme’s three-year period, Gamstop saw a spike in registrations in 2021, compared to the previous years, with more than 67,000 people signing up to the charity this year, compared to 51,000 in 2020.
Furthermore, March this year recorded the second highest registration month in the scheme’s history to date, with 7,0478 sign-ups. Gamstop also noted that, of the 250,000 people to register, more than 228,000 are currently self-excluding through its service.
“The registration levels are higher than anticipated this year, though we cannot pinpoint one specific reason for this,” stated Fiona Palmer, CEO of Gamstop. “We have developed the scheme to make it easier to register and have worked hard on raising our profile to make sure we are more visible to those who might need us.
“The effects of the pandemic might also have something to do with the rise.
“The independent evaluation which took place during the first three months of this year showed us how effective our consumers felt the scheme had been to their ongoing recovery.
“This was very reassuring to the Gamstop team, the wider stakeholders and hopefully anyone thinking about registering. We are fully committed to improving the Gamstop service to make it even better next year.”
Currently in its fourth year of operation, Gamstop stressed that the continued rise in registrations highlights its importance as a safety net to those at risk from gambling-related harm.
Earlier this year, Gamstop revealed a 25 per cent increase in registrations during the first six months of 2021, compared to the previous year, in its first bi-annual review.
The free national scheme for self-exclusion from online gambling says that the review, of 3,300 registered users, was launched to give greater insight into trends on the group’s platform, as well as gambling behaviours across the UK.
Gamstop works closely with financial services organisations and treatment providers, including Citizens Advice, Gamcare, the Northern Gambling Clinic, Gordon Moody, Peer Aid and Betknowmore.
The TalkBanStop project, in collaboration with Gamcare and Gamban, has also helped to raise awareness of Gamstop’s services this year.
Several football clubs have pledged their support to raising awareness of Gamstop through formal partnerships, including: Crystal Palace, Brentford, Luton, Middlesbrough, QPR, Morecambe, Preston North End’s Foundation, Bolton Wanderers, Milton Keynes Dons and Harrogate Town.
