Online gambling has never been so easy. Players can now simply use a smartphone with an internet connection to put money on sports, play any classic casino game, or play bingo at a moment’s notice in any place and at any time. While this flexibility has been a boon for the overall global gambling industry, making it one of the fastest-growing industries on the planet, it has also presented some significant harm to individuals at risk of problem gambling.
Self-exclusion is designed to be a very effective responsible gambling measure in terms of what it does. Contrary to simply relying on their willpower to reduce gambling, self-exclusion places a barrier between the gambler and gambling operators. With self-exclusion, individuals are better able to resist the urge to gamble, particularly during times when they are more vulnerable to returning to gambling.
Two major countries have developed national-level self-exclusion registers in order to make the process easier for people. Gamstop in the UK and Betstop in Australia, although these two programs differ in many ways, including the respective jurisdictions they operate in, there is one objective that joins these two programs together. That is, to protect people from gambling addiction and harm.
Gamstop- A Solution From the UK
Gamstop is the official national self-exclusion program for online gambling in Great Britain, which was launched in 2018. It was created to deal with concerns that problem gamblers were getting around self-exclusion by easily creating new accounts with a different operator, even after closing existing accounts.
Gamstop solves this issue by offering a single centralized program. Once an individual registers to self-exclude themselves through Gamstop, they are restricted by all gambling operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This includes online betting, online casinos, and online bingo operators. All operators are required by UK law to utilize Gamstop when a customer self-excludes and to check every new account against the Gamstop register.
How Does Gamstop Work?
- Registration is done online and requires personal information to match with gambling operator databases.
- Exclusions are available for a fixed duration of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years only.
- During the exclusion period, individuals may not create new accounts, and all existing accounts will be suspended.
- Upon completion of the exclusion period, the individual must log into the Gamstop portal to check whether their exclusion has expired. Upon confirmation, they need to contact Gamstop to get themselves removed from the register if they wish to gamble again.
Features of Gamstop
1. Nationwide, Multi-operator Coverage
Gamstop applies to all gambling operators that are licensed in Great Britain, including online betting operators, casinos, and bingo websites. All licensed operators are legally required to use Gamstop, which makes it a totally seamless and collectively unaffected process to exclude users from betting. Since March 31, 2020, it is a condition of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) license that gambling operators must integrate with Gamstop. Non-compliance could lead to enforcement action and suspension.
2. Centralised Self-Exclusion
Gamstop enables users to self-exclude themselves across the entire regulated online gambling sector with a single request, rather than requiring them to sign up separately with each gambling operator. It helps streamline the process and avoid loopholes. The UKGC has made it clear that gambling businesses should take reasonable steps to stop excluded people from gambling.
3. Fixed but Flexible Exclusion Period
Users can select an exclusion period of either six months, one year, or five years as a structured exclusion period. Due to some feedback from users, Gamstop additionally introduced a five‑year auto-renewal option, with the exclusion period automatically renewing unless the user opts out. This enhancement supports long-term protection.
4. Completely Free to the User
There are no fees associated with registration and use of Gamstop to ensure it remains accessible to users. The aim is to eliminate financial barriers to self-protection.
5. Identity Verified Registration
The registration process will request various personal information (e.g., name, date of birth, email, phone number, address) that can be matched against operators’ databases to facilitate exclusions.
6. Daily Operator Checks are Compulsory
The data provided to Gamstop on registration continues to be checked every day by the operator against login and account creation attempts to ensure individuals who have been excluded are not accessing gambling services.
7. Enforceable Regulation and Penalties
The Gambling Commission has regulatory oversight authority and can enforce compliance and suspend operators who do not actively participate in Gamstop or update exclusion lists. This highlights the serious regulatory element behind the system.
8. High Acceptance and Impact
Since its launch in April 2018, Gamstop has received hundreds of thousands of registrations, with over 530,000 at the end of 2024, and nearly 600,000 in mid-2025. Continuing to increase in uptake, particularly from younger users (aged 16–24).
What is Betstop? An Australian Initiative
Betstop is Australia’s National Self-Exclusion Register for online wagering, launched in August 2023. Betstop is administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) as part of the government’s National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering.
Betstop is similar to Gamstop in that it creates a national self-exclusion register, simplifying the self-exclusion process. Once a person has registered with Betstop, they will be blocked from accessing all licensed online and phone wagering providers in Australia. Every operator must review their customers against the Betstop database, and they are prohibited from offering services or promotions to excluded people.
How Does Betstop Work?
- Registration is online and includes identity verification to prevent people from getting around exclusion.
- Exclusion can be a flexible time length, ranging from a minimum of 3 months to a lifetime exclusion.
- Once a person has registered, operators must cease marketing efforts made to excluded persons or sending promotional materials.
- Exclusion is also supported with resources to connect the customer with counselling and help services.
Features of Betstop
1. Comprehensive Coverage of Licensed Wagering Services
Betstop allows users to self-exclude from all Australian-licensed telephone and online wagering providers with just one registration, which includes about 150 wagering providers across Australia. Wagering providers are required to maintain closed accounts during the exclusion period and refuse to take new bets or make promotional contact with the person during the exclusion period.
2. Free, Safe and Confidential
Betstop is a free service provided by the Australian Government. The registration process only takes a short amount of time and is completely confidential – designed to protect people’s privacy while giving them control over access to gambling.
3. Options for Lifetime Self-Exclusion
Users can determine the length of the exclusion period, which can range from a minimum of 3 months to lifetime exclusion option. This way, the person can choose an exclusion period that is most appropriate for where they are with their own recovery needs. Individuals will not be able to apply for removal from Betstop for the first 3 months, and once that period is over, removal of a user’s registration from Betstop will require a statutory declaration stating they have obtained counselling/advice from an appropriately qualified individual.
4. Government-Backed Enforcement and Serious Penalties
Betstop is operated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in accordance with the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering. Operators that violate the scheme by allowing excluded persons to bet, open accounts, or receive marketing face serious enforcement actions that can include fines of up to AUD 281,700 per day, as well as involvement of the Federal Court, warnings, and other actions.
5. High Adoption and Heavy Use
Since its launch in August 2023, Betstop has had exceptional use. By the end of April 2024, there were over 22,600 registrations and a total of around 19,100 active excluded users. Lifetime exclusions are also high, with 9% of users.
Gamstop vs. Betstop: Important Differences
While both Gamstop and Betstop share a common and important goal of reducing gambling-related harms through self-exclusion, they differ in terms of jurisdiction, accountability, scope and operational features in some significant ways. These distinctions reflect both the legal and cultural contexts of the UK and Australia, and shape how each system operates in practice.
1. Jurisdiction
Gamstop operates only in the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland and Wales. It is compulsory for all operators that hold a current license issued by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). However, Gamstop only applies to licensed operators and does not include unlicensed offshore gambling sites, representing an important loophole for some gamblers.
Betstop operates in Australia and includes all gambling operators with a license to operate under Australian legislation. Like Gamstop, Betstop does not include international unlicensed gambling sites, and thus, cannot go beyond the confines of its controlled jurisdiction.
2. Governing Structure and Oversight
Gamstop is operated by the National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme Limited, a not-for-profit company set up solely for the purposes of the scheme. The UKGC oversees the operation of Gamstop and ensures compliance by licensed operators within its licensing system.
Betstop is fully operated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) within the government’s National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering. Betstop is therefore a government-run program, not industry-run.
3. Scope of Services Covered
Gamstop applies more broadly to the UK online gambling market, which includes casinos, betting on sports, bingo, and lotteries (as covered by a UKGC license). The broad applicability reflects the varied UK gambling market, which includes games of chance as well as betting.
Betstop has a much narrower scope, specifically relating to online and telephone wagering and, therefore, is focused on sports betting and racing. Betstop does not apply to other gambling verticals such as lotteries, casino-style gaming, or retail venues.
4. Exclusion Periods and Flexibility
Gamstop has three fixed exclusion periods: 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Once selected, there can be no early lifting of the exclusion, and when the exclusion period ends, the user must actively request that their account be reactivated. This structured system has some certainty but lacks flexibility.
Betstop provides flexibility of exclusion periods from a minimum of 3 months to a lifetime exclusion. The flexibility means an individual can select either a shorter-term exclusion as an immediate break or can select a permanent exclusion if they want to commit to ending their wagering entirely.
5. Enforcement Context and Legal Backing
Gamstop exists as part of the UKGC’s licensing regime. For operators, compliance with Gamstop is a licensing condition. If operators fail to comply with the requirements, they risk sanctions, fines, or simply losing their license.
Betstop exists in Australia, as part of the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering. The ACMA has the authority pursuant to the framework to impose severe penalties on non-compliant operators, including fines of AUD 281,700 per day.
6. Practical Effectiveness and Challenges
Gamstop has been widely adopted since it was established in 2018, and as of 2024, there are over 500,000 users who have signed up. However, Gamstop continues to face ongoing challenges with unregulated offshore operators that do not operate under the UKGC.
Betstop is new (launched August 2023), but it is proving popular, with tens of thousands of Australians already registered. Like Gamstop, it does not cover offshore betting, which means that determined players can always find a way around.
Gamstop and Betstop: Striking Similarities
Despite their differences, Gamstop and Betstop are similar in a few important ways, which are key to being effective self-exclusion schemes.
Purpose: The purpose of both is to reduce the harm caused by gambling by giving a structure to individuals who want a way to restrict themselves.
Voluntary and Free: Registration is free, and participation in the process is voluntary, empowering individuals as the first step in this process.
National Coverage: Both are national registers that enable stakeholders to self-exclude from multiple operators and remove the need for people to self-exclude with each operator.
Legal Obligations: Licensed operators in both countries have a legal obligation to connect with both schemes, and self-exclusion must be enforced by licensed operators without exception.
Confidentiality: Both schemes guarantee assistance with user confidentiality, ensuring their information is held securely.
The Importance of National Schemes
Prior to the existence of national registers, self-exclusion was often not very effective. People were required to seek exclusion from each gambling entity individually, which was tedious and so easy to circumvent when all records are only 90 days old. Gamstop and Betstop cut through this quandary by allowing one self-exclusion to have a national influence, which is enforced across all licensed operators in their jurisdictions.
Both Gamstop and Betstop also represent a significant policy trend, wherein governments are assessing how satisfactory (or not) industry self-regulation is in protecting vulnerable gamblers. By pursuing universal compliance, regulators can be assured that self-exclusion will have real strength and credibility.
Finally, both programs connect people to broader support services which, opposed to being barriers, ask excluded individuals to consider associating with their services for counselling, financial advice, or treatment for addiction. Not only are Gamstop and Betstop barriers; they act like portals to recovery.
A Common Objective
Although Gamstop and Betstop are literally on opposite sides of the globe, the purpose of the two is one and the same. Both aim to provide an easy and effective option for people who are having difficulties with gambling.
Gamstop provides the structure of fixed exclusion periods to UK users, while Betstop provides flexible options and choices to Australians, including one option for a permanent exclusion. They are governed by different bodies. The UKGC in Great Britain and the ACMA in Australia, but the philosophy being followed is the same in protecting consumers through a mandatory national register that every licensed operator is required to use and comply with.
For anyone experiencing a gambling problem, registering for Gamstop or Betstop can be an important first step in taking back control of their life. While the two systems have different features, they both highlight the growing global commitment to responsible gambling and protecting consumers. In the end, the only real choice is where you live, but their common purpose illustrates a worldwide recognition that safe gambling must always be the priority.
