According to statistics in the UK, there is a sharp increase in the popularity of the gambling industry. More and more players become users of various casinos and spend serious sums on their favourite games. Along with this, the problem of gambling addiction also increases. According to official figures, over 2 million people in the UK experience the harmful effect in one way or another from gambling games.
Currently, this problem is dealt with primarily by the UK Gambling Commission. Moreover, additional self-exclusion mechanisms and programs (GamStop and Gamban) were developed in order to cover a large audience of gamblers. So, if this problem is actually for you, or if you are interested in learning more about it, scroll down and find answers to all your questions.
GamStop Overview
This option is definitely well-known among most experienced gamblers as well as those who know about online casinos by hearsay. Below, our team of experts describes to you the main features of this self-exclusion scheme.
What is GamStop
GamStop was first launched by the National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme five years ago in 2018. Like the previous option, it is a non-profit organization that also provides various options for self-exclusion and aims to reduce harm reduction from gambling among British players. Those players who feel problems with addiction can go to the site, contact the support service, and request participation in the program.
To do this, you need to provide the minimum required information about yourself and confirm registration by mail. After that, you are offered several options for a ban. You can currently exclude yourself on all platforms that support UKGC for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Worth to mention, that UK casino sites that aren’t on GamStop which do not have a UKGC licence still will be available even after the registration. Some players try these sites and after the exclusion period, request to be removed from the block list.
GamStop Features
As mentioned above, this scheme helps players to block themselves on various gambling sites that have licences issued by the UKGC. Unlike other exclusion programs, this is a free resource that does not require any contributions from you. Its main task is to help gamblers and reduce potential social, psychological, and (as a result) physical harm from addiction to the minimum.
Also, unlike Gamban, this resource is more flexible and democratic. Currently, it is supported by all casinos that operate in the UK. The corresponding statement was announced in 2020 by the UK Gambling Commission. If you do not have an addiction but would like to consult on any issue related to gambling, GamStop is also open to you. All you need is a contact support service that is available 24/7.
Gamban Overview
Let’s start with the Gamban scheme. Although it is less popular than the second option we will describe in this review, it deserves separate attention.
About Gamban
Gamban is a product powered by GambleAware and has been operating in the gambling market since 2015. This company is a non-profit organization dedicated to funding educational, medical, and research projects related to gambling. For the same purpose, Gamban software was developed to block casino gaming sites of all kinds. Generally speaking, it is the most popular and one of the best ways to block sites and ads available on the market. Currently, there are many sites that operate in the UK and that have a clear policy regarding gambling addiction. However, this is not always sufficient. In order to participate in Gamban, you must pay a fixed sum.
After that, you can choose the service package that can meet your requirements. The effectiveness of this resource has been awarded numerous prizes and awards it received. Among the most famous is the Software Rising Star Award, which Gamban received in 2018, as well as the RegTech Provider of the Year (2019).
Features of Gamban
With the help of Gamban, players can prohibit themselves from using gambling operators, various applications, and even other services related to gambling. As soon as players feel addicted, they are advised to immediately go to the Gamban website and register to claim the self-exclusion option. The main difference between this application and GamStop is that once the Gamban app is successfully installed on your device, you can no longer uninstall it.
Before activating the program, you are offered several options for the time intervals for which you can be excluded. At the time of writing this review, Gamban is partnering with multiple casino operators. However, the capabilities of this service do not end there. The program also offers a variety of addiction treatment options, counselling, and customer support.
Gamban vs GamStop for Londoners: Bottom Line
The UK is one of those countries where you come across quite strict policies towards the gambling industry and the protection of players from problems related to gambling. Both GamStop and Gamban are excellent options that can help you prevent issues through self-exclusions available for London citizens. What is more, both companies are committed to promoting safe and responsible gambling, which further expands their customer base and builds trust in them.
