Last updated ·Checked against published operator terms
How Does GamStop Work?
GamStop works by matching the details you register against the details on a gambling
account, at three points: registration, login and deposit. The operator does the
matching, not the scheme, and that is why the block reaches exactly as far as the UK
licensing system and no further.
Step one: the register
You register once with GamStop and choose a period. The scheme holds a record of your
details — name, date of birth, address, contact information — and the dates of the
exclusion. That record is the input to everything that follows.
Step two: the operator checks
A UK-licensed operator is required to check the register when a person registers an
account, when they log in, and when they deposit. The check is a data match against the
details the operator holds. If it matches, the operator must refuse the action.
This is the part people misunderstand. There is no central switch that turns a casino
off. The block is applied by each operator, using the scheme’s data, because the operator
is obliged to. Remove the obligation — by removing the licence — and the block disappears.
Step three: the period runs
The exclusion runs for the period you chose, from six months to five years. During that
time the checks continue. When the minimum period ends the entry does not disappear on its
own: it stays in the register until you ask GamStop to remove it, which is why doing
nothing keeps you excluded.
How long does GamStop last?
You choose. The minimum is six months and the maximum is five years. The scheme does not
offer a shorter option, and it cannot be ended early by asking an operator or by opening
a new account elsewhere. If you want a longer period than five years, the usual approach
is to register again when the first one ends.
The period is the part people most often get wrong. Choosing five years in a difficult
moment is a long commitment, and it is not reversible. If you are unsure, the shorter
option exists for a reason.
Where the matching fails
Three cases. First, the details do not match: a different name, a different address, a
different date of birth. Second, the account predates the registration, and the operator
did not re-check at login. Third, the site is not UK-licensed, so no check is required.
The first two are errors, and GamStop can help resolve them. The third is not an error at
all — it is the boundary of the scheme. A casino regulated in Curaçao has no obligation
to query the register, which is why the offshore market is described as outside GamStop
rather than exempt from it. The
registration page takes this further.
What the scheme does not do
It does not block land-based venues, which have their own arrangements.
It does not block the National Lottery.
It does not block sites licensed outside Great Britain.
It does not provide counselling, though it points to services that do.
It does not stop you from gambling; it asks licensed operators to stop you.
Practical advice if you are registering
Use the exact details on your existing casino accounts, close any accounts you no longer
want before you register, and keep the confirmation. If a site still lets you in
afterwards, note the date and report it to GamStop rather than assuming the scheme has
failed.
If you are registering because gambling has become unmanageable rather than as a
precaution, tell someone as well as the register. GamCare’s helpline is free and
confidential, and the
support page lists the services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does GamStop know I have an account somewhere?
It does not know, and it does not need to. GamStop holds a record of the details you gave when you registered — name, date of birth, address and contact information — and each UK-licensed operator checks that record against the details it already holds for you. The check runs when you open an account, when you log in and when you deposit. The scheme supplies the data; the operator performs the match and must refuse the action if it hits. That is also why registering with the exact details used on your existing accounts matters.
How long does a GamStop exclusion last?
You choose the term at registration: six months, one year or five years, and there is no other length. The clock starts when your registration is confirmed, not on the date of your last bet, and the period cannot be shortened afterwards by asking a casino or the scheme. When the minimum term runs out the entry does not lapse — it stays on the register until you request removal, and no one contacts you to prompt that. In practice, the exclusion lasts until you take a positive step to end it.
Can I register for less than six months?
No. Six months is the shortest term the scheme offers, and there is no custom length or three-month option. The fixed periods exist because an exclusion you can see the end of from the first week does less work than one you have to live through. If what you need is a short pause rather than a formal exclusion, the tools to use are the operator's own: a deposit limit, a time-out or a site-level self-exclusion, all of which can be set for days or weeks and adjusted later. GamStop is the heavier, longer instrument.
Why does the block not work at some casinos?
One of two things is happening. Either the details on the account do not match the details on your GamStop record — a different name, address or date of birth — or the site holds no Great Britain licence and is therefore not required to query the register at all. The first is an error, and the scheme can help you correct it; the second is structural, not a fault. A casino regulated in Curaçao sits outside the scheme by definition. If a UK-licensed site still lets you in, note the date and report it to GamStop.
Does GamStop tell casinos who I am?
No. GamStop does not circulate a list of excluded names to casinos, and an operator does not receive your record. The check runs the other way: the operator compares the details it already holds for you against the scheme's data, and gets a match or no match back. Nothing is published, and a casino that has never had you as a customer has nothing to compare against. The practical implication is that the block depends on the operator holding details that resemble the ones you registered, which is why using your real name, address and date of birth matters.
What happens when the period ends?
Nothing happens automatically. When the minimum period you chose runs out, the entry stays on the register and the block continues until you ask GamStop to remove it. Nobody contacts you to tell you the date has passed, and doing nothing keeps you excluded indefinitely. That default is deliberate: the scheme is built so that protection continues unless you make a positive request to end it. If you want to gamble again at UK-licensed sites, the step is to contact GamStop directly and follow its removal process; a casino cannot do it for you.