GAMSTOP Self-Exclusion Figures Reach Alarming Levels in the UK

GAMSTOP, the free nationwide mass self-exclusion service, has revealed alarming statistics for the first six months of 2022. Over 300,000 people in the UK have self-excluded from online gambling platforms via GAMSTOP, with an average of 7,000 new sign-ups for every month of 2022 thus far. Between January and June, over 43,500 people self-excluded from online sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, marking a 9% increase year-on-year.

Historically, GAMSTOP patterns indicate that more individuals self-exclude during the winter months. However, more customers self-excluded in the second quarter of 2022 than in the fourth quarter of 2021, suggesting that high levels of self-exclusion will persist. A new single-day record was set on July 1, 2022, when 371 people used the program to self-exclude from gambling.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, spoke about the adverse effects of gambling, stating that GAMSTOP's most recent data shows that gambling addiction is still a big problem and that protection measures are needed. Different studies suggest that increased volumes of self-exclusion indicate a continued prevalence of gambling-related damage and a better understanding of GAMSTOP.