The UKGC has given national self-exclusion registry, GAMSTOP, the green light. Players in the UK can now sign up for self-exclusion should the fun of gambling begin to become an addictive need. Gamble Smart!
To say that the legalities and responsibilities surrounding regulated gambling are a full-time job is no understatement. While for the consumer it means simply moving from playing at less desirable unregulated online casino to those now approved by your local authorities, for those authorities it is walking a tightrope between profit and protection.
Self-exclusion programs are one way in which to ensure problem gamblers are protected from themselves. When a simple flutter on a Friday night becomes an aching need, self-exclusion allows the average Joe to curb potentially dangerous compulsive behaviours.
✓The Growing Need For Self-Exclusion
Many European countries have implemented intensive self-exclusion programs as a part of their regulatory oversight. They allow residents access to gambling as entertainment while ensuring the availability of care and assistance should the hobby become an addiction.
In Sweden, Spelhaus.se lets players self-exclude from “all games online, in-store and on-court, as well as Vegas and Casino Cosmopol” for periods of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or ‘Until Further Notice’ which has a 1-year minimum. It is worth noting that these suspensions include a pause on all gambling direct marketing as well.
Denmark has ROFUS which allows Danish players to register for either temporary self-exclusion or a permanent ban from all licenced online and land-based gambling. They have recently included the option to have the permanent ban lifted after 1 year but requires that the player write in and explain why they want the ban lifted.
The Belgian self-exclusion program is run by GamingCommission.be and requires the submission of a printed exclusion form to their office in Brussels by post. However, they are one of the only countries where you can submit a ‘Request for denied access’ on behalf of a 3rd party. The requirement being that you can “prove that you have a vested personal interest in the proposed access ban”.
✓Welcome To The Party GAMSTOP
The UK’s national self-exclusion program is officially live under the banner, GAMSTOP. The self-exclusion program will continue to fine-tune its online services over the next few months – which will include ensuring marketing databases begin to automatically exclude registered GAMSTOP members.
At the moment 150 casino groups have pre-listed with GAMSTOP, this list includes the likes of 32 Red Limited, 888 UK Limited, Gala Interactive, L&L Europe Limited, LeoVegas Gaming PLC and Mr Green. These groups have signed up without any pressure from the UKGC as part of their own safe gambling and player protection activities.
The UKGC will begin to enforce compulsory GAMSTOP registration for all UK licenced casino operators within the next few days.
✓Self-Exclusion Is Self-Medication
If you, or a loved one, suffer from the compulsive need to gamble please visit GAMSTOP and learn more about their self-exclusion program.
All you need to do is fill in a simple form which asks for:
It takes seconds and can save you and your family a lot of money and heartache.
There are also programs that will help you self-exclude from brick-and-mortar casinos (playingsafe.org.uk), gambling arcades (bacta.org.uk), bingo (bingo-association.co.uk) and bookmakers (self-exclusion.co.uk).
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