How to use GAMSTOP: how it works and how to register in six steps
SaveGAMSTOP (now called Gamstop Online) is a free UK scheme that blocks you from every online gambling company licensed in Great Britain with one registration. You choose 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or 5 years that renews itself. Signing up takes a few minutes, and the block can take up to 24 hours to switch on. This guide from I Need Help shows how it works, what to have ready, the six registration steps, and how to cover the gaps GAMSTOP leaves.
How GAMSTOP works
You register once with your personal details. Every gambling website and app licensed in Great Britain must check new and existing customers against the GAMSTOP list. If your details match, the company has to stop you logging in to accounts you already hold and refuse any new account you try to open.
- You register on gamstop.co.uk and pick a length.
- Your details go on the list that licensed companies check. This can take up to 24 hours.
- Existing accounts are blocked, and new sign-ups in your name are refused.
- The block runs for your chosen period and cannot be cancelled early.
- After the period ends, the block stays until you contact GAMSTOP and ask for it to be removed.
GAMSTOP is open to anyone living in the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. It does not cost anything, and no gambling company can charge you for it.
What you need before you register
The block only works if the details you give match the details on your gambling accounts. Have these ready:
- Your full name, as it appears on your gambling accounts.
- Your date of birth.
- Your current address and postcode.
- An email address you can open straight away.
- A list of the other emails, phone numbers and old addresses you have used on gambling accounts, so you can add them to your GAMSTOP account once it is set up.
GAMSTOP registration in six steps
- Go to gamstop.co.uk/register and press Start.
- Enter your name, date of birth, address and email exactly as your gambling accounts hold them.
- Choose the length of your block: 6 months, 1 year, 5 years or 5 years with auto-renewal.
- Check every detail on the summary screen, then submit.
- Open the email GAMSTOP sends you and follow any steps in it.
- Sign in to your GAMSTOP account and add any other emails, phone numbers or old addresses you have used for gambling.
The whole process takes a few minutes. Allow up to 24 hours before every site is blocked, and use that time to install blocking software on your phone and laptop.
Which length to choose
| Option | Suits you if |
|---|---|
| 6 months | You want a break for exams, a new job or to save money |
| 1 year | You want time to rebuild habits and clear debts |
| 5 years | You know gambling causes you harm and want a long stop |
| 5 years with auto-renewal | You want to stop for good |
When the period ends, the block stays in place until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it; the 5-year option with auto-renewal renews itself. You can extend a block from your GAMSTOP account at any time, but you cannot shorten it. If you are torn between two lengths, choose the longer one.
What GAMSTOP blocks and what it does not
| Type of gambling | Blocked by GAMSTOP? | What to use instead |
|---|---|---|
| Online casinos, betting, bingo and poker licensed in Great Britain | Yes | — |
| Gambling apps from companies licensed in Great Britain | Yes | — |
| High street betting shops | No | Gamstop Betting Shops, free on 0800 294 2060 |
| Land-based casinos | No | SENSE self-exclusion |
| Bingo halls | No | Bingo Association self-exclusion scheme, in person or by phoning the venue |
| Arcades and adult gaming centres | No | Bacta self-exclusion at the venue, or SmartEXCLUSION on 01482 441 142 (option 1) |
| Gambling sites not licensed in Great Britain | No | Blocking software and a bank block |
How to ban yourself from all gambling at once
No single tool covers everything. Four layers together close almost every door, and you can set all of them up in one evening.
| Layer | What it stops | Cost | How to set it up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gamstop Online | Accounts with online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain | Free | Register at gamstop.co.uk |
| Gamstop Betting Shops | High street bookmakers near you | Free | Call 0800 294 2060 |
| Blocking software | Gambling websites and apps on your devices, including sites not licensed here | BetBlocker is free; Gamban costs £4.99 a month or £29.99 a year in England and Scotland and is free in Wales | Install one on every phone, tablet and computer |
| Bank gambling block | Card payments to gambling companies, online and in shops | Free | Switch it on in your banking app, or ask your bank |
Our guide to blocking gambling sites on your devices walks through the setup on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac.
What to do in the first week
- Withdraw your money. Registering does not return your balance automatically. Contact each gambling company and ask for any withdrawable funds to be sent back.
- Delete gambling apps and saved cards from your phone, browser and laptop.
- Unsubscribe from marketing. Licensed companies should stop contacting you, but unsubscribe from anything that still arrives.
- Tell one person you trust. An exclusion is easier to keep when it is not a secret.
What happens when your GAMSTOP period ends
Nothing changes on the end date. Your block stays in place until you contact GAMSTOP and ask for it to be removed, and GAMSTOP will not get in touch to tell you the period is over. If you are thinking about removing it, talk it through with the National Gambling Helpline first.
If a site still lets you gamble
A company licensed in Great Britain must not let you gamble while you are registered. If one does, contact GAMSTOP and check that the details on your GAMSTOP account match your gambling account. Sites that are not licensed in Great Britain are not part of the scheme, which is why blocking software and a bank block matter.
Who to contact
| Service | What for | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| GAMSTOP | Help with registration and your account | 0800 138 6518 or webchat, 10am–8pm, 7 days; [email protected] |
| Gamstop Betting Shops | Self-exclusion from high street bookmakers | 0800 294 2060, free |
| National Gambling Helpline | Confidential advice and support in England and Scotland | 0808 8020 133, free, 24/7 |
| NHS Wales Gambling Helpline | Advice, support and treatment for people in Wales | 0808 2819 265, free, 24/7 |
| GambleAware | Information and treatment options | Online |
| Samaritans | If you are struggling and need to talk now | 116 123, free, 24/7 |
This article is general information rather than advice for your own circumstances. I Need Help is an information site and we do not sell any goods or services. Gambling is for adults only (18+), and free, confidential support is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
#Self-exclusion #GAMSTOP #Website blocking #Helplines
Download PDF: Your GAMSTOP registration checklist PDF, 30 KB
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
Does GAMSTOP block betting shops, the lottery or sites not licensed in Great Britain?
No. GAMSTOP blocks online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain. For high street bookmakers use Gamstop Betting Shops (0800 294 2060), and add blocking software and a bank block to cover everything else.
How long does it take for GAMSTOP to start working?
Registration takes a few minutes, and GAMSTOP says it can take up to 24 hours for the block to become effective. Avoid gambling sites in that time and set up blocking software straight away.
Can I cancel GAMSTOP early?
No. You cannot cancel during the period you chose. When it ends, the block stays in place until you contact GAMSTOP to remove it, and GAMSTOP will not remind you that the period is over.