GAMSTOP: 25% more users in 2021 compared to the previous year

GAMSTOP is a national organization from the United Kingdom that allows for self-exclusion from online gambling, helping individuals who suffer from gambling addiction and offering support. 

In the first six months of 2021, the organization has registered a 25% increase in users of their services, compared to the same period the previous year. 

This was one of the main results in the bi-annual review of the organization, which has allowed for a deeper insight into the trends of the platform and of the gambling behaviour of people within the United Kingdom.

The review has also highlighted that:

  • More than 40.000 people joined GAMSTOP in the six months of 2021, and that March was the second month for the number of registrations.
  • By the end of June 2021, the total number of GAMSTOP users was higher than 218.000
  • As for gender, users of GAMSTOP are 70% male and 30% female.
  • 58% of GAMSTOP users have chosen the maximum exclusion period of five years.
  • Younger people are more likely to use GAMSTOP: 41% of users were 25-34 years old, and 59% were within 18-34 years old.

Furthermore, statistics from the Gambling Commission have highlighted that online gambling keeps growing and has remained the largest combined sector by Gross Gambling Yield. At this point, online gambling accounts for over 50% of the gambling market.

With the first independent evaluation of GAMSTOP, performed by Sonnet – a research agency – we’ve also learnt that GAMSTOP is used by people from different age groups, ethnicities and socio-economic groups. This means that gambling can become a problematic behaviour for people of all demographics. 

After a survey done to 3.300 registered users of GAMSTOP, the agency also learnt that the ethnicities that make up the users of GAMSTOP are also corresponding to the UK population, with 89% being white, 3% Asian, 2% Black, and 1% Mixed.

As for the socio-economic situation of users, they’ve found that 29% of respondents live in households with a pre-tax income of more than £48,000 per year, and 48% in households earning more than £32,000 per year. About 75% of the users are in full or part-time employment and 63% had no children.

Fiona Palmer, GAMSTOP CEO, said:

“While it is encouraging to see that consumers are continuing to find GAMSTOP and use it as a crucial safety net in their recovery, this review reinforces the importance of continuing to raise awareness of practical tools that are available to those struggling with gambling-related harm.

Our evaluation results demonstrate that gambling-related harm is an issue that affects people from all walks of life, irrespective of income, location, or gender. It is imperative that we continue to reach people from across the UK, and to give them access to tools that can aid them in their recovery, or form an important preventative measure.”

Stacey Goodwin, a recovering problem gambler and GAMSTOP registrant, said:

“It’s encouraging to see that the number of registrations for a vital service like GAMSTOP is increasing, but it also shows the significant amount of gambling in our society. More needs to be done to support and get the word out about crucial safety nets and services, like GAMSTOP, to ensure that vulnerable people know about them, and most importantly that they use them.”

If you experience gambling issues of any kind and are in need of support, we recommend you contact GAMSTOP or one of the many other organizations that support gambling addicts. Remember to always play responsibly!