Reviewed by TipsterCheck Editorial TeamLast checked 29 October 2026MethodologyCorrections
Betting glossary · General
What is GAMSTOP?
What is GAMSTOP?
How GAMSTOP works
GAMSTOP is operated as a single central register. When you register at gamstop.co.uk, you provide your name, date of birth, email address, and postal address. That information is shared with every online gambling operator holding a Gambling Commission licence to serve customers in Great Britain, and all of those operators are legally required to participate. Once active, your account at every covered site is blocked and you cannot open new ones for the duration you chose: 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. Crucially, that period cannot be cancelled or shortened once it starts, regardless of your circumstances.
The scheme covers online gambling only — casino, sports betting, poker, bingo, and similar products offered over the internet. Land-based venues such as betting shops, casinos, and amusement arcades operate separate self-exclusion arrangements, typically managed locally or through their own industry schemes. If you are excluded via GAMSTOP, you remain free to walk into a high-street bookmaker, which is an important limitation to understand. Equally, any operator based outside Great Britain and not licensed by the Gambling Commission is under no obligation to enforce a GAMSTOP exclusion.
Worked example
Suppose a punter registers with GAMSTOP in January, selecting the 1-year option. From that point, every UK-licensed online bookmaker and casino must block their access; if they try to log in to an existing account, it will be suspended, and any attempt to create a new account should be refused during the identity-verification stage.
If the same punter tries to sign up to an offshore site not regulated by the Gambling Commission, GAMSTOP has no reach there and the registration may proceed unimpeded. This distinction matters: GAMSTOP is a robust safeguard within the licensed UK market, but it does not constitute a universal block on all online gambling worldwide.
Why this matters when judging or following a tipster
GAMSTOP is directly relevant to the welfare context in which tipster services operate. A reputable tipster or review site should make clear that anyone who has self-excluded must not attempt to circumvent that exclusion in order to follow betting advice. TipsterCheck treats GAMSTOP registration as a clear signal that a person should not be placing bets at all, and no tips — however strong the claimed record — justify breaking a self-exclusion commitment.
From a due-diligence standpoint, tipster operators should include a responsible gambling statement that references GAMSTOP, and reviewers should note its absence as a shortcoming. If you are assessing a tipster subscription service, check whether it signposts GAMSTOP and other support tools such as GamCare or BeGambleAware. A service that actively discourages or ignores responsible gambling safeguards is a red flag, regardless of its profit-and-loss figures.
Example: A bettor who registers with GAMSTOP for five years in February will find every UK Gambling Commission-licensed online account blocked until February five years later, with no option to shorten that period if they change their mind.
FAQs
Is GAMSTOP free to use?
Yes. Registering with GAMSTOP costs nothing. It is a free service available to anyone who wants to self-exclude from online gambling operators licensed by the Gambling Commission to serve customers in Great Britain.
Can I cancel my GAMSTOP exclusion early?
No. Once you choose your exclusion period — 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years — it cannot be cancelled or reduced early. You must wait until the full period has elapsed before your access to licensed sites can be restored.
Does GAMSTOP block land-based betting shops?
No. GAMSTOP applies to online gambling only. Betting shops, casinos, and other land-based venues operate separate self-exclusion schemes and are not covered by a GAMSTOP registration.
More general terms: Palpable Error, Punter, Returns