GamStop, the UK’s national online self-exclusion program, has reported a 16% increase in the number of registrations over problem gambling in the first half of the year, with the initiative continuting to add more people.
GamStop Sees More People Registering and Self-Excluding from Gambling
This is hailed both as a marker of success and a cautionary tale as more people find out about the self-exclusion option available in the UK, while similarly the numbe rof those reporting issues is also increasing.
The biggest increase in registration, argues Gamstop comes from those under the age of 25, who saw a 26% year-on-year increase. Younger users are most likely to opt for shorter exclusion periods, while 38% choose a minimum of six-month exclusion terms.
However, half of all registered users on GamStop, presently 614,738 have already opted for a five-year exclusion period. Men account for seven out of every ten new registrations, the program said in an official press release, outlining the latest results and current trends.
In may, there were a record number of sign-ups, a total of 12,236. Commenting on these results, GamStop Group CEO, Fiona Palmer, had this to add:
“The fact that self-exclusion has again increased significantly year-on-year shows that users are continuing to find it an invaluable and flexible tool to manage their gambling, particularly younger consumers. Whilst the landscape has changed significantly in recent months, our approach remains the same, which is to work collaboratively across the sector, emphasising the importance of layering tools and support, to enhance recovery for those experiencing harm.”
The World Cup Effect and Impacting Consumer Well-Being
Gamstop Group Head of External Affairs, Matt Burgiss, added that there is a plausible risk of people increasing their gambling during the World Cup tournament, and suffering from gambling-related issues.
Because of the heightened activity surrounding the World Cup, many players may then struggle to stop and start participating in higher-risk games, such as online casinos. However, self-exclusion is a bulwark against these issues.
“Self-exclusion gives them the opportunity to take a break from gambling and prevent it from getting out of hand. From personal experience, I know how easy it is to overlook when gambling becomes more frequent and how quickly it can start to negatively impact you and those around you,” Burgiss added.