The UK regulator UKGC has a number of requirements for operators. Not only does the licensor require compliance with mandatory conditions to protect player data, but it also imposes conditions for mandatory connection to the Gamstop service. This measure, as well as the prohibition of credit card deposits, is aimed to reduce the spread of gambling addiction. Moreover, online casinos are obliged to monitor players’ activity and take measures in case of gambling addiction.
However, not all players are ready for such restrictions. At the same time in UK users are not forbidden to register and bet on the websites of the operators licensed by other regulators. Therefore, many British gamblers prefer online casinos, not on Gamstop that do not impose such restrictions. However, in this case, it can be difficult to choose a reliable operator. For this purpose, it is recommended to use the https://www.nongamstopsites.co.uk rating. The TOPs include the most trusted gambling clubs with a large assortment of gaming software and large payouts.
What is Gamstop?
Gamstop is a voluntary blocking service. The service is completely free of charge for gamblers. Operators, on the other hand, have to pay a connection fee. Many gamblers use several casinos at once to gamble. The Gamstop service allows you to freeze an account in all casinos at once, provided that the operators are connected to it. In this case, the user does not need to contact the support team of each of the clubs separately.
The blocking of profiles is temporary in nature. A player may disable the accounts for a period of 6 months or more. It is also possible to impose restrictions for a year or even 5 years. At the same time, after the end of the term profiles in the casino will become active only after activation, which takes at least 24 hours.
Pluses and minuses for players
The main advantage of introducing the Gamstop rule for users is the ability to block themselves from all sites at once. This service allows players to fight the development of cheat addiction. However, there are certain disadvantages. If a player is in full control of himself, bankroll expenditure, and uses online casinos just for recreation, but under the pressure of others was forced to block, it is impossible to reactivate the account before the expiration of the selected period.
Consequences for the casino
The Gamstop rule has rather negative consequences for operators. First of all, connecting a casino to the service is a paid service. In addition, due to its activities gambling clubs lose some of their customers. However, previously many online casinos had a policy of “responsible gaming”. It implied that there was a functionality on the operator’s website to disable the profile. Usually, it was enough to contact support, in addition, managers often advised users of services to combat addiction.
Nowadays, even a temporary disconnection was highly likely to mean the complete loss of a customer. The fact is that many users do not wait for the opportunity to return to the previously used clubs, preferring to use a casino not on gamstop.
Bypassing Gamstop
In the UK, players are not prohibited from registering and betting on the websites of operators not connected to Gamstop, i.e. casinos with a different license. As a result, users who have blocked themselves from the service still have access to gambling. All they need to do is to
register on the sites of a club with a license of another country. However, in this case, it is important to make the right choice. Many services offer a list of casinos not on gamstop. They include the most trusted operators, offering a large selection of simulators, live games, generous bonuses, and a convenient system to conduct transactions. The most popular among gamblers who want to avoid GamStop are casinos with licenses from the Malta and Curacao Gambling Commissions. These regulators do not impose restrictions on players.
The Gamstop rule has not proved effective enough to combat gambling addiction. If necessary, players can easily access gambling by using a non-Gamstop casino. However, the mandatory connection to the service has hit UKGC-licensed gambling clubs, as they are losing some of their audience.
