GamStop, the UK’s voluntary self-exclusion scheme for gambling, has revealed that it successfully achieved all of the objectives set out during its formation in 2018.
As Jenny Watson ends her seven-year tenure as the inaugural Chair of GamStop, the non-profit organisation will begin a new chapter in September this year.
Writing her final statement in GamStop’s Annual Report, Watson described GamStop as a remarkable organisation that has positioned self-exclusion as a key safeguard for vulnerable individuals affected by gambling in the country.
The impact of GamStop is visible to all stakeholders, with 1% of UK adults having self-excluded from licensed gambling sites — and no signs that the registration rate is slowing down.
“We have made significant progress in our mission to safeguard people from the harms of gambling addiction, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives,” Watson noted.
“Our success is measured not only by the numbers but by the stories of transformation and recovery. Over the years we have heard from many consumers who credit GamStop with helping them regain control over their lives. These personal accounts are a powerful reminder of the importance of our work and the profound impact it has on individuals and their families.”
GamStop now operates two self-exclusion schemes: GamStop, for online gambling, and MOSES, for betting shops. It also serves as the technology provider for GamProtect, the industry-led Single Customer View project, which has now emerged from its pilot phase with seven operators integrated.
Since its inception in 2018, GamStop has registered more than 560,000 users, offering a practical tool to block online gambling activity. GamStop is available to all consumers resident in the United Kingdom. Users can choose to exclude themselves from all online gambling sites for a specified period — 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or 5 years with auto-renewal.
The number of registrations has significantly exceeded initial forecasts, which Watson believes highlights the critical need for effective self-exclusion mechanisms.
In 2025, GamStop aims to be a principal actor in the development of a new national strategy to prevent gambling harms, led by the NHS and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).
CEO Fiona Palmer predicts that the recently announced changes to the funding model for research, prevention, and treatment in the UK will reshape the landscape for both national and local commissioners. She notes that GamStop’s heatmap and demographic data can support commissioners in addressing emerging challenges.
An independent evaluation of GamStop, conducted by Ipsos in 2024, found that 75% of service users no longer gamble online, and 78% said GamStop had delivered the results they had hoped for.
“We have made a commitment to them to do this going forward… our priority remains delivering a clear, technically robust exclusion solution to those who need it most,” Palmer concluded.