Top reasons for gamers to register with GamStop

By William Davis

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Jul 17, 2021

Reading time: 3 min

GamStop is a self-exclusion website that has been specially designed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission to provide assistance for those suffering from problem gambling in the UK. Players who realize their addiction or tendencies towards gambling addiction can register themselves for the service. After registration, players are excluded from a list of gambling websites for a designated amount of time. The ban from online gambling websites can range from 6 months to five years at the most.

GamStop integration is compulsory for every casino that has been licensed, authorized, and regulated under the UKGC. Services like GamStop are important for helping those who suspect they may have a gambling addiction head off the problem before it becomes serious. 

Gamblers Anonymous, or the Gordon Moody Association, was formed in 1971 and has been helping problem gamblers for over 50 years, even before things like GamStop or GamBan were conceived. With residential treatment centers, a retreat and counseling program, relapse prevention program, and gambling therapy treatment, the Gordon Moody Association has been providing a unique service across the gambling landscape.

Too much spending on esports betting 

Gambling addiction can have severe effects on both physical and mental health. Just like any other addiction, addiction to esports betting can lead to depression, anxiety, and strained interpersonal relationships. Problem gamblers drift off from their loved ones, indulge in compulsive lying, and can even be pushed into other illegal activities to feed their habits. 

The unfortunate part is that the online gambling world can be rather ruthless and insensitive in its approach to gambling addiction in players. Thus, GamStop steps in for cases where the gambler cannot determine the right or wrong for himself. However, people do need to make the choice to register themselves for the services.

Addictive behaviour

The biggest effect of gambling addiction is debt that is difficult to recover from. Financial problems are like a slippery slope but self-exclusion systems ban players from gambling websites which makes it impossible for problem gamblers to spend money on wagers. Controlling one’s finances becomes a big factor when one signs up with a self-exclusion service like GamStop.

Advancements in the online gambling industry have led to a rapid rise of UK casinos not on GamStop exclusion that aren’t licensed by UKGC. The ease of placing bets from the comfort of one’s home allows players to readily sign up for sites and play endlessly. Given how easy the process of gambling has become, players unfortunately have a number of options for circumventing their own recovery efforts. 

High spendings at gaming sites

The first and the main reason why GamStop is not just important but necessary is to combat the habits of problem gamblers. Players can register themselves and control their exclusion period at will. This keeps them safeguarded from the temptation to gamble online and likely lose more money. 

High rollers are at a higher risk because it becomes very easy to trick oneself into thinking that one big hit will make up any losses. GamStop blocks all the casino websites and gambling advertisements until, hopefully, the player can get a hold on themselves. 

Concluding thoughts

GamStop is a useful tool that helps problem gamblers work their way out of the vicious cycle of gambling addiction. Players can settle for software alternatives such as Betblocker, Betfilter, Netnanny, Gamblock, etc. For example, Betblocker currently restricts 13,613 sites. 45% of addicted gamblers receiving medical attention were in serious debts of more than $6800 as of 2020. This is a serious problem that is tackled by UKGC and programs such as Self Enrollment National Self Exclusion Scheme. 

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