The most widespread self-exclusion program has recently reported increased demand for its services from gambling in the UK and beyond. According to statistics, 2023 became a record year for GamStop registrations, as the number of participants boomed with over 92,000 new users. The popularity of this self-exclusion has been growing since its inception: the number of compulsive players using the service already exceeded 400,000 people.
GamStop has proven efficient in terms of coping with gambling addiction and compulsive disorders. The program restricts access to UK-based casino and betting platforms for a chosen period from six months to five years. Over 80% of participants who were previously self-excluded mention decreased cravings for gambling activities, which is definitely a positive statistic.
Overview of the Report Findings
According to GamStop reports, 2023 has been a record year regarding the number of users joining the self-exclusion program. Statistics indicate that this tool is more in demand among representatives of the younger generation, as most registrations were from 16-24-year-old individuals. It’s also worth noting that most participants have chosen to self-exclude for five years, which is the maximum term allowed by the software. Such a significant boost is conditioned by several factors, including the rising popularity of numerous casino sites not registered with GamStop program and the need for players to control themselves when engaging in risky entertainment. Many users joined the program voluntarily, which confirms the program’s reliability and efficiency once again.
Factors Driving the Increase
Gambling disorders are a global challenge, so reputable operators, regulatory authorities, and non-profit organizations unite to address it together. Responsible gaming initiatives have become more widespread in recent years: multiple campaigns on customer awareness have been already launched. An increased number of sources informing users of possible gambling-related harms is one of the reasons why users are interested in joining GamStop.
Regulatory changes are another driver for the self-exclusion program’s popularity. The UKGC is one of the strictest controlling bodies globally. Implementing GamStop in casinos and sportsbooks’ activities is among its primary requirements. Therefore, numerous users joining the self-exclusion are members of UKGC-licensed platforms.
COVID-19 locked all of us inside our homes, and an increased demand for online entertainment was witnessed during the pandemic. People searched for fun in the digital world, and casino registrations boomed. Such a trend ended in increased compulsive gambling rates – and now it’s time to cope with the problem. The consequences of COVID-19 lockdowns are another factor conditioning the current demand for GamStop services.
Implications for the Industry
Undeniably, the growing number of GamStop registrations adds work to support organizations that provide guidance and treatment to those affected by gambling problems. At the same time, casino operators must implement additional mechanisms that help restrict access to their platforms for affected players. Moreover, gaming websites can face a decrease in the number of members, which impacts their eventual profits.
Even though casinos not participating in the GamStop program like in NonGamStopCasinos list they still implement self-exclusion mechanisms for players. As these sites are usually used by people who have previously registered with self-exclusion services, they are prone to addiction. However, these casinos are also concerned about promoting responsible gambling, despite they are not part of a GamStop network.
Responsible gambling operators actively engage in special initiatives, providing users with more details about possible harms. Therefore, the industry becomes more transparent and safer for all members. The increased demand on self-exclusion implies that operators and responsible authorities should create more promotional campaigns to increase user awareness on this issue and offer multiple resources for those at risk. Preventing the problem is easier than proceeding with long-lasting treatment, so players should be well-informed before engaging in online or offline gambling.
Future Outlook and Recommendations
The popularity of online casinos is not projected to decrease in the following years, so users are likely to continue playing their favourite risky games. Therefore, there’s a high need for creating more initiatives to inform users about the potential harms. Multiple online casinos have implemented special AI-based mechanisms like reality checks to motivate gamblers to make breaks and manage their budgets properly. It’s predicted that the popularity of GamStop will continue growing due to the increased customer awareness of irresponsible gaming consequences.
Self-exclusion programs are available for compulsive users for free, but not every player knows about such an opportunity. Therefore, it’s important to popularize this tool by creating promotional campaigns. Collaborations with celebrities and influencers can be a significant benefit, as many people would rather consider their idols’ opinions. Some gambling and betting operators accepted this strategy and engaged sports stars and other famous people in their safer gaming ads. Overall, all industry players should collaborate and minimize gambling addiction rates globally to promote a responsible approach to this risky entertainment.
The Final Word
A 9.5% increase in GamStop registrations in 2023 indicates that users become more informed of gambling-related harms and choose to cope with the problem voluntarily. Since its inception in 2018 discussed in world news, the tool has gained customer trust and proven efficient, which is why it’s becoming more popular in the industry. From their side, operators and responsible authorities initiate special campaigns informing players of possible harms and encouraging them to use all means to prevent problems and maintain healthy gambling behaviours.
