What GAMSTOP Is and How It Protects Young People from Gambling Sites

GAMSTOP is a free national self-exclusion register that blocks a person's access to all gambling sites licensed in Great Britain. Once someone registers, they cannot open accounts or place bets on any site holding a Gambling Commission licence for a period they choose themselves. The scheme is available to anyone aged 18 or over, and this guide explains how it works, what it covers and how Transformation Trust views its role in protecting young people and supporting families.

How the Scheme Works

A person registers directly on the GAMSTOP website by providing their name, date of birth, address and contact details. They choose a blocking period: six months, one year or five years. The register shares these details with every gambling operator licensed by the Gambling Commission, and those operators must prevent that person from gambling on their platforms.

The block applies immediately after registration and cannot be undone before the chosen period ends. No cooling-off window exists — the decision is final from the moment it is confirmed.

When the period expires, access does not return automatically. The person must contact GAMSTOP and confirm they wish to resume gambling. A short cooling-off window then applies before sites become accessible again.

What the Block Covers

GAMSTOP covers online gambling only: casino games, sports betting, bingo, poker and lottery products offered by sites licensed in Great Britain. It does not block gaming purchases such as loot boxes, virtual currency or skin-trading platforms, even where those involve real money.

The register does not cover sites operating without a British licence. A person who registers can still reach unlicensed operators, and young people searching for ways around restrictions may encounter them.

Who Can Register and Why It Matters for Families

Only people aged 18 and over can register with GAMSTOP. A parent, teacher or youth worker cannot register on behalf of someone else, even when that person is a minor.

This limitation means GAMSTOP is not a tool parents can apply directly to protect children from gambling sites. Its value for families lies elsewhere: it allows a young person who has turned 18 and recognises they need help to take immediate action themselves, and it provides a clear boundary for those in recovery.

For young people under 18, blocking software and parental controls remain the practical options. Gamban and BetBlocker work on phones, tablets and computers, blocking gambling sites and apps regardless of the user's age or the site's licensing status.

Registration Steps

1. Visit the GAMSTOP website and begin the registration process by entering personal details including full name, date of birth, home address and email.
2. Choose a blocking period: six months, one year or five years, understanding the decision cannot be reversed once confirmed.
3. Confirm identity by uploading a document such as a driving licence or passport, which GAMSTOP uses to match records across operators.
4. Submit the registration and receive confirmation by email that the block is active across all licensed sites.

The process typically completes within minutes. Licensed operators receive the details and must block access immediately, preventing both new registrations and logins to existing accounts.

Limits of the Register

GAMSTOP only reaches operators licensed by the Gambling Commission. Sites based offshore and operating without British approval lie outside the scheme's scope. Young people determined to gamble may search for these sites, and advertisements for them can appear on social media and search engines.

The register blocks online gambling but does not prevent a person from entering a licensed betting shop or playing machines in an arcade. These require separate steps, including speaking to venue staff or asking the National Casino Forum about shop-based self-exclusion.

Gaming products that sit outside gambling regulation — loot boxes in video games, virtual item trading — fall outside GAMSTOP's reach entirely. These products often appeal to younger players and carry their own risks, yet no single national register covers them.

What Happens After the Period Ends

At the end of the chosen period, GAMSTOP contacts the person by email to ask whether they wish to remove the block. If they do not respond or choose to extend, the block remains. If they confirm they wish to resume, a brief cooling-off window applies before access returns.

This waiting period exists to prevent impulsive decisions immediately after a restriction lifts. During this time, the person can reconsider or seek advice before gambling becomes possible again.

Blocking Software and Family Controls

Parents and schools looking for tools to protect young people under 18 should consider blocking software rather than relying on age verification at gambling sites. Gamban operates as a paid subscription service across devices and blocks access to thousands of gambling sites and apps, both licensed and unlicensed. BetBlocker is a free alternative that works on computers, phones and tablets, blocking gambling domains without requiring a subscription.

Parental-control software such as Net Nanny and Qustodio allows adults to set time limits, filter content and monitor activity on devices used by young people. These tools work alongside device-level restrictions available on iOS, Android and Windows.

Blocking software is not foolproof. Determined users may find workarounds, and no filter catches every new site. Combined with open conversation and clear family rules, these tools reduce risk without claiming to eliminate it.

Conversations Around Self-Exclusion

For parents and teachers, bringing up self-exclusion with a young person requires care. The subject implies the person is already gambling or at risk of harm, and raising it clumsily can feel accusatory.

A better approach focuses on tools without assuming wrongdoing. Mentioning GAMSTOP in the context of wider internet safety — what protections exist for gambling, gaming and social media — normalises the conversation. Asking whether the young person has seen gambling adverts or offers during gaming sessions opens discussion without requiring them to admit harm.

When a young person mentions gambling or shows warning signs such as secretive behaviour, unexplained spending or distress around money, the conversation shifts. At that point, parents can ask directly whether gambling has become difficult to manage and introduce GAMSTOP as one option for someone who wants to stop.

Supporting Someone Who Registers

A young person who registers with GAMSTOP after turning 18 has made a significant decision, and the weeks after registration can be difficult. The urge to gamble may remain strong, particularly when bored, stressed or exposed to triggers such as sports events or gaming communities.

Practical support includes removing saved payment details from devices, unsubscribing from gambling-related emails and unfollowing social media accounts that promote betting. Encouraging other activities that provide structure and distraction — whether sport, creative work or time with friends — helps fill the space gambling occupied.

If the person struggles or shows signs of wanting to wait out the blocking period in order to gamble again, professional support becomes necessary. Organisations listed below offer confidential advice and can connect young people with counsellors who specialise in gambling harm.

Getting Help

Young people, parents and professionals can reach confidential support through GamCare, which operates the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 — free to call and available every hour of the day. BeGambleAware provides information, self-assessment tools and referrals to treatment services across the country.

Gordon Moody offers residential and online treatment for people severely affected by gambling harm. These services are confidential, and nobody needs to give their real name when calling or using online chat.

Blocking software such as Gamban and BetBlocker can be installed immediately on devices at home or in school, preventing access to gambling sites while other support is arranged. Gambling is restricted to people aged 18 and over, and these protections exist to keep young people safe while they develop the judgement to manage risk.

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