In the terms of use and FAQ section of the GamStop website, they say that the scheme covers only online gambling operators and has no control over the traditional gambling venues. However, what happened to me proved that this may not be true, especially since most UK sports betting shops and land-based casinos have websites. Therefore, they may integrate GamStop somehow without players noticing; This is what happened to me!
Since the start of covid-19 restrictions and having to work from home, I spent a lot of time playing on online casinos and sports betting sites, so I decided to sign up for GamStop to prevent myself from wasting more time and money on British gambling sites.
In fact, I am delighted with this decision because it helped me take control over my household finances, focus on my career better, decrease stress and anxiety, improve the quality of my relationships with family, and lower alcohol consumption. However, I have always been curious about high street betting shops. I don’t know if this is out of my love for sports betting or if it’s pure curiosity!
As soon as the government announced the resumption of sports activity, the lifting of quarantine restrictions and the reopening of sports betting shops, every day I passed by the sports betting shops on my street. Sometimes I had the strength to resist temptation, but I finally fell into the trap! Will the betting shop know that I am self-excluded from GamStop? If they let me in and play, will I be able to transfer my winnings to my card, or they will withhold them! Since curiosity is an essential characteristic of all bettors, I entered the betting shop.
What Happened When I Went to the Bookie?
Right after I stepped into the high street shop, they asked me to check my ID, and what I expected happened! They recognised that I was registered with GamStop, and my restriction will be left after 6 months.
To avoid losing an enthusiast customer, they asked me to sign a consent form of ending the self-exclusion and an acknowledgement of violation of the GamStop terms. Unfortunately, they told me that it would take 24 hours to approve the request, so I decided to go to another betting shop.
The second bookie didn’t ask me for ID verification. However, this made me more anxious and not the other way around!
I placed bets around £250, and I won my bet and took the winning coupon to the cashier, but they checked my ID and refused to make the payment because I’m still in the self-exclusion period! They were supposed to refund me my base bet, but that didn’t happen.
What is the lesson from this experience?
First of all, GamStop lies! Although their terms stipulate that the service is designed only for online casinos, they stop you from going into bookies and casinos. All your data is shared with all gambling facilities within the UK, even though there is another self-exclusion programme for traditional gambling facilities, SENSE, but it is clear that both programs share databases.
Secondly, conventional gambling facilities are still trying to use GamStop to make gains at the expense of gamblers. They might let you in, but they won’t release your winnings!
Thirdly, your GamStop subscription can be cancelled in writing , but you will have to wait up to 24 hours for your request to be confirmed.
How effective is GamStop in achieving users’ goals?
Recently, GamStop published a study that shows its effectiveness in improving consumer wellbeing and reducing the harms associated with gambling, and the results were as follows:
- 70% of GamStop users reported improved anxiety and stress levels.
- 63% of users reported that their significant relationships improved.
- 82% of GamStop users stopped gambling after signing up.
- 80% of users reported that the scheme had achieved its intended results.
- 84% of consumers say they felt safer after registering with GamStop.
- 90% of users reported that the process of subscribing to GamStop was simple.
Moreover, users who did not give positive opinions about the service did not give negative reviews, so it is clear that this service is evolving to meet consumers’ expectations. It is an essential part of the national strategy to combat gambling addiction and consolidate responsible gaming habits.
Although gambling is a very attractive recreational activity, 56% of GamStop users wanted to stop gambling completely. 20% wanted to stop gambling in the medium term. And the lowest segment, 13% wanted to stop gambling for a short time only.
What periods of self-exclusion does the scheme offer?
Although GamStop offers self-exclusion options for six months or a year, 71% of users would prefer to stop all gambling activities for as long as possible, five years. Furthermore, 40% of users want more extended exclusion periods, so providing a permanent self-exclusion option might be a good solution for such consumers.
What are the challenges facing GamStop service?
The main challenge facing GamStop is that it does not include local gambling providers or otherwise known as betting sites not on GamStop that British players can quickly sign up for. Unlike the land-based and virtual operators, offshore gambling sites are not subject to any internal control, and they readily accept all British players whether they are self-excluded or not.