UK self-inclusion scheme records highest number of single-day sign-ups as users surpass 300,000

More than 300,000 people in the UK are now registered with GAMSTOP, the national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, with a monthly average of more than 7,000 sign-ups this year.

GAMSTOP has released its data for the first six months of 2022 against the backdrop of the UK government’s delayed white paper on gambling law reform, which is now expected to be published in the autumn.

From January to June 2022, more than 43,500 people registered to exclude themselves from UK-licensed online sites – up 9% annually on the first six months of 2021.

Generally, the highest number of registrations are recorded in the winter months, but there were more sign-ups in the second quarter of 2022 than in the final quarter of 2021.

On 1 July, 371 people registered to exclude themselves, making it the day with the highest number of registrations since the service first went live in April 2018.

GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer said: “Our most recent data suggests gambling-related harm remains a serious problem and it is widely accepted that action is needed to protect those most at risk.”

GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer said: “Our most recent data suggests gambling-related harm remains a serious problem and it is widely accepted that action is needed to protect those most at risk.

“We look forward to seeing the government’s recommendations for reforming the gambling laws in the forthcoming white paper,” she added.

In the second quarter of 2022, there was a 5% increase in registrations from 16-24-year-olds, while 58% of all registrants were under 35, as of the end of June.

Currently, 30% of registrants are female, but in February 2022, a record 33% of those who self-excluded were women.

Registration with GAMSTOP is free, with people asked to fill in personal details and select an exclusion period of six months, one year or five years.

According to the latest statistics, nearly 50% of those registered have triggered a five-year exclusion, the longest term possible.

GAMSTOP was launched in April 2018 and, as of the end of June 2022, 91% of the 300,631 people who have registered since its inception are currently excluded. Fewer exclusions were removed in June 2022 than in any of the five preceding five months.