How to use GAMSTOP: the registration process and what it protects

GAMSTOP is a free national self-exclusion scheme that blocks your access to gambling sites licensed in Great Britain. At IRIS, we explain how the registration process works, what protection it provides once active and what to expect during the exclusion period. This guide walks you through each step so you know what happens before, during and after you sign up.

What GAMSTOP blocks and what it leaves open

GAMSTOP applies to gambling sites that hold a licence from the Gambling Commission. Once you register, those sites will not let you open an account or log into an existing one. The block covers sports betting, bingo, poker and slots on licensed platforms.

It does not block sites without a British licence, the National Lottery or football pools. If avoiding those matters to you, blocking software such as Gamban (https://gamban.com) or BetBlocker (https://betblocker.org) covers a wider range. GAMSTOP works alongside those tools rather than replacing them.

Registration: the details you provide

The registration form at https://www.gamstop.co.uk asks for your name, date of birth, address and email. You also choose an exclusion period: six months, one year or five years. The scheme needs enough detail to match your profile against the databases of licensed sites.

You will confirm your email address through a link sent to your inbox. GAMSTOP does not ask for payment details, a scan of identification or proof of address during sign-up. The form takes a few minutes to complete and the exclusion begins immediately after you confirm.

Why the form asks for multiple addresses

If you have lived at more than one address recently or use a work address for correspondence, adding those increases the chance that your details match what a gambling site holds on file. A mismatch can let an account slip through, so accuracy here matters more than speed.

The exclusion period: what changes and what stays the same

Once your registration is active, licensed sites will block your login and reject new sign-ups using the details you provided. You will see an error message if you try to access an account. Existing balances remain available: sites must let you withdraw funds even during an exclusion.

The period you chose cannot be shortened. If you selected one year, you wait one year. That fixed term is deliberate: it removes the option to undo the decision during a moment of temptation or frustration. Your exclusion applies across every licensed site at once rather than requiring individual requests to dozens of platforms.

Marketing and offers during exclusion

Licensed sites must stop sending you promotional messages once GAMSTOP notifies them of your exclusion. If marketing emails or texts continue, contact the site directly to confirm your details match what they hold. Persistent contact after that is a breach you can report to the Gambling Commission.

Signing up to GAMSTOP: the process step by step

1. Visit https://www.gamstop.co.uk and select 'Exclude Me'.
2. Fill in your personal details — name, date of birth, postal addresses and email — and choose your exclusion length.
3. Check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to activate your registration.
4. Wait for GAMSTOP to update licensed sites with your details; this happens within hours.
5. Test the block by attempting to log into a licensed site; you should see an error message confirming the exclusion is live.

What happens after the exclusion period ends

Your block lifts automatically when the term you chose expires. GAMSTOP does not renew or extend it unless you register again. You receive no reminder that the exclusion is about to end, so the date passes without notice unless you mark it yourself.

Some people find that the end of the term brings a choice they were not ready to face. If gambling still feels risky or you are unsure whether you want access back, you can register again before the current period ends. The new term starts when the old one finishes, leaving no gap.

Gaps in protection and how to fill them

GAMSTOP relies on the details you provide matching the records a gambling site holds. A different email address, an old postal code or a nickname instead of a legal name can let an account through. If you have accounts under multiple email addresses or have moved house recently, update your details on GAMSTOP or consider blocking gambling sites on your phone as a second layer.

Sites without a British licence are not part of the scheme. If you find yourself drawn to those platforms, blocking software covers them alongside licensed sites. Gamban works on computers, phones and tablets; BetBlocker is free and installs in minutes. Neither tool has a gap between sign-up and activation.

Shared devices and other people in the household

Your GAMSTOP exclusion applies to your own accounts, not to devices or network connections. Someone else in your home can still access gambling sites on the same computer or phone unless you install blocking software at the device level. Parental-control tools such as Net Nanny or Qustodio lock access for everyone using that device, which matters if children share it.

Combining GAMSTOP with other forms of support

GAMSTOP removes access, but it does not address the reasons you gambled or the feelings that follow when you stop. Many people find that blocking access buys time to explore counselling or join a peer group without the constant pull of open accounts.

GamCare (https://www.gamcare.org.uk) runs counselling sessions and an online chat; the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133, free and available around the clock) answers calls from anyone affected by gambling harm. Gamblers Anonymous offers group meetings where people share their experiences without judgement. GAMSTOP works best as one part of a broader plan rather than the only step.

Blocking access removes the immediate option to gamble, but talking to someone — whether a counsellor, a helpline adviser or a peer in recovery — addresses what drove you to gamble in the first place.

Recognising when the urge returns

The weeks after signing up to GAMSTOP can feel calmer, but urges do not disappear the moment access ends. Boredom, stress or seeing an advert can bring the impulse back. Recognising gambling triggers early gives you a chance to respond before the feeling builds.

Some people keep a note of what was happening just before they felt like gambling — the time of day, the mood, the situation. That record shows patterns you can plan around. If evenings alone are difficult, filling that time with something specific (a walk, a call to a friend, an errand) interrupts the routine that led to gambling before.

Support for anyone affected by gambling harm

If gambling has affected your mental health or your relationships, support is available through organisations that understand the pressures it creates. GamCare (https://www.gamcare.org.uk) provides free counselling and a chat service; the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) is open day and night. BeGambleAware (https://www.begambleaware.org) publishes guides and links to local services.

Gambling is restricted to people aged 18+. If someone under that age is using gambling sites, contact one of the organisations above for advice on how to talk to them and what protections exist. Devices shared with minors should carry blocking or parental-control software so that your exclusion does not leave a gap someone younger can slip through.

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