Compliance
GamStop
Definition
The UK national self-exclusion scheme, mandatory for all UKGC-licensed online operators. Allows players to self-exclude across all UK-licensed sites with a single registration.
Key takeaways
- GamStop lets a player self-exclude from every participating GB-licensed online operator with one registration.
- Exclusion periods are 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, and participation has been a licence requirement since 31 March 2020.
- Offshore unlicensed sites do not participate, which is part of the case for stronger black-market enforcement.
Why it matters
GamStop is the cross-operator self-exclusion mechanism that lets a UK player register once and be excluded from all UKGC-licensed online operators for a selected period (6 months, 1 year, or 5 years). The scheme launched in 2018, and participation has been mandatory for UKGC online licensees since 31 March 2020. The scheme processes registrations and propagates exclusion status to operators in near-real-time, with operators required to prevent registration or login by GamStop-listed players.
GamStop is often cited as a model for jurisdictions designing their own cross-operator self-exclusion schemes. Sweden's Spelpaus, Denmark's ROFUS register, and Germany's OASIS framework all serve analogous functions, though the technical implementations and governance differ. The structural strength is that the player only needs to make the self-exclusion decision once to be protected across the licensed market; the limitation is that offshore unlicensed operators don't participate, which is part of the policy argument for stronger black-market enforcement.
Sources
- Online operators required to participate in GAMSTOP from March 2020 - Gambling Commission
- LCCP Condition 3.5.5: Remote multi-operator SR code - Gambling Commission
- What is ROFUS? - Danish Gambling Authority (Spillemyndigheden)
Frequently asked questions
Does GamStop cover land-based gambling?
No, GamStop covers online gambling only. Land-based gambling in Britain has separate multi-operator self-exclusion schemes, including MOSES for betting shops and SENSE for casinos, and customers can also exclude themselves from individual premises. Registering with GamStop does not exclude a customer from land-based venues.
Does GamStop apply to offshore operators?
GamStop only covers UKGC-licensed operators. Offshore unlicensed operators don't participate in GamStop. This is one of the policy arguments for stronger enforcement against offshore operators serving UK players: GamStop's protective effect is bypassed by unlicensed activity.