What GAMSTOP is and How the Register Works in Practice
GAMSTOP is the UK national online self-exclusion scheme. Registering blocks you from gambling websites and apps licensed in Great Britain.
Because participating in the scheme is a mandatory condition of a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence, it binds only UKGC-licensed operators. Operators licensed elsewhere aren't connected to it. That's the entire legal basis of the phrase "not on GAMSTOP".
The process relies on a central database. You choose to block yourself, at which point GAMSTOP checks your identity and adds you to its register.
Gambling operators then check with GAMSTOP when anyone tries to use an online gambling account. If your details match the register, GAMSTOP responds to the operator, and the operator blocks you from accessing or using the account.
The system is widely utilised across the country. GAMSTOP is used by over half a million people in the UK to manage their access to online gambling platforms.
Exclusion Length, and the Two Things People Get Wrong
When you register for the scheme, you choose the exclusion length. The available periods range from 6 months up to 5 years.
You can set the exclusion to renew automatically, ensuring continuous coverage without needing to re-register manually. However, there are two strict rules regarding the timeframe that are frequently misunderstood.
First, once you've registered, you can't cancel your registration during the exclusion period. The block is absolute for the duration you selected, and neither the scheme administrators nor the operators can lift it early for you.
Second, your exclusion stays in place after the end of the period you chose, unless you actively contact GAMSTOP to remove it.
The block doesn't automatically expire and drop off the system. If you reach the end of a five-year term, you remain blocked indefinitely until you initiate the removal process.
The Other Blocking Layers, and What Each One Covers
The national register is just one part of a full self-exclusion strategy. There are several distinct layers of protection, and each covers a different access point.
GAMSTOP Online covers websites and apps, strictly within the GB licensing system.
GAMSTOP Betting Shops is a separate scheme that covers high-street bookmakers and physical retail locations.
Blocking software is another distinct layer. This covers your personal devices, preventing your phone, tablet, or computer from loading gambling-related websites entirely, regardless of where those sites are licensed.
Bank card blocks represent a final, separate layer that stops payments at the financial level. Many modern banking applications, such as Revolut, offer this feature to stop funds leaving your account.
When you open a Revolut account, the gambling block is disabled by default.
To turn it on: tap your profile icon in the top-left corner, tap 'Security', tap 'Payments', turn 'Gambling block' on or off, then tap 'Yes' to confirm.
Once enabled, the block is active and blocks card payments immediately. Once in place, it can't be bypassed. If you decide to disable it, it takes up to 48 hours for the block to be lifted.
It's vital to understand the technical limitations of these financial blocks:
- It blocks card payments only. These are transactions where you use your card details, such as entering them on a gambling site or using the physical card in a betting shop.
- The block doesn't affect other types of transaction, such as bank transfers or payments made through third-party apps.
- The system identifies gambling using merchant category codes (MCC). Companies use these codes to classify purchases by the type of service they provide.
- The block prevents payments to merchants using MCCs linked to gambling. If companies use different MCCs to hide their gambling services, the block won't prevent those transactions.
Revolut issues Visa and Mastercard cards. Paying with Revolut at an online casino is therefore a card payment, and is subject to these exact limitations.
While banks state they'll do their best to identify and block these card payments, they aren't liable for any successful card payments that slip through.
Your Money: What Is and Isn't Protected
If you choose to gamble with an operator outside the GB licensing system, you step outside the consumer protections enforced by the UK Gambling Commission.
Even within the UK system, money staked or deposited with a gambling business isn't protected by the Gambling Commission or the government the way that personal bank accounts are.
Any gambling business you bet with must tell you whether your money has any protection if they become insolvent.
From 31 October 2025, gambling businesses are required to remind you every 6 months if they hold your funds and those funds aren't protected. You must acknowledge receipt of that notification before you're allowed to use the funds.
Online gambling businesses licensed by the Commission must keep customer funds in a separate account.
However, there's no guarantee that this separate account ensures customers get any of their money back if the business runs into financial difficulties.
The Commission's own wording on this matter is clear: those using gambling businesses do so at their own risk. When you use an operator licensed outside Great Britain, even these baseline transparency rules regarding insolvency don't apply.
Verifying a Licence, and the Complaints Route You Do or Do Not Have
The UKGC maintains a public register of licensed businesses. This database is freely accessible and is exactly how a UK licence can be verified by any consumer.
A UKGC licence also brings a formal complaints and alternative-dispute-resolution (ADR) escalation route.
If you've an unresolvable issue with a GB-licensed operator regarding a bet, a withdrawal, or account terms, you've the right to escalate the matter to an independent ADR provider approved by the Commission.
An operator licensed outside Great Britain doesn't give you that route.
If you experience a dispute with an overseas operator, you're entirely reliant on the regulatory framework of the jurisdiction where they hold their licence, which typically offers far less direct support to UK consumers.
Getting Help
If you're experiencing trouble with your gambling habits, or if you feel overwhelmed by the process of managing your access to gambling platforms, professional support is readily available.
The National Gambling Helpline is 0808 802 0133. They provide free information, advice, and support, completely confidentially.
If you need technical assistance with your self-exclusion registration, GAMSTOP's own helpdesk is available on 0800 138 6518.
The helpdesk operates from 10am to 8pm, 7 days a week. You can also reach their support team via email at [email protected].
FAQ
Does GAMSTOP Cover Operators Licensed Outside the UK?
No. The scheme only covers gambling websites and apps that are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Operators licensed in other jurisdictions are entirely disconnected from the national register.
Can I Cancel My Self-exclusion Early?
No. Once you've registered and chosen your exclusion period, you can't cancel your registration during that time under any circumstances.
What Happens When My Chosen Exclusion Period Ends?
Your exclusion stays in place automatically. It won't expire on its own. If you wish to gamble again after your chosen period has ended, you must actively contact the helpdesk to request the removal of your block.
Will a Bank Gambling Block Stop All Payments to Casinos?
No. Bank gambling blocks, such as those offered by Revolut, block card payments only. They rely on merchant category codes and don't affect bank transfers or payments routed through third-party applications.
Is My Deposited Money Fully Protected by the UK Gambling Commission?
No. Money deposited with a gambling business isn't protected in the same way as a personal bank account. While UK-licensed businesses must keep customer funds in a separate account, the Commission explicitly states that users gamble at their own risk if a business becomes insolvent.
This author focuses on the mechanics of online transactions, explaining how card payments, banking blocks and merchant category codes function in practice. Their writing explores the consumer protection side of UK gambling regulation, helping readers clearly understand self-exclusion rules and safeguard tools.