Gambling is flourishing in the UK, with the total gross gambling yield (GGY) reaching £15.1 billion. Millions of people are involved in gambling, and the latest Gambling Commission figures show that approximately 1.3 million adults suffer from problems. No wonder the annual number of GamStop registered users reached 92,000 in 2023, with a reported annual increase of 9.5%. At the same time, a large percentage of self-excluded players continued their gambling experience thanks to the publicly available list of non-GamStop betting sites, so there are multiple variants for GamStop-registered players to enjoy casino games in spite of this restriction. What are they, and which risks do they bear?
Things to Know About GamStop Restrictions
It’s not a secret that many gamblers who once tried GamStop decided to cancel it, but it is necessary to understand the role of this scheme. GamStop was designed to help Brits control their gambling activities. If you ever face a problem when gambling habits get out of control, the GamStop scheme is one of the best ways to heal and stop the addiction from deepening.
If you decide to self-exclude for 6 months, you won’t be able to access UK-licensed online casinos during that period, and there is no opportunity to change that. At the same time, it isn’t a reason to get sad since there are other ways to circumvent this scheme and continue gambling.
Popular Methods To Get Around GamStop
It would be a real problem if GamStop were impossible to circumvent. However, players have discovered several ways to enjoy casino games even if they have self-excluded. Discover four methods of navigating around GamStop.
- Non-GamStop online casinos: As of May 2024, there are over 4,800 gambling operators and businesses all around the world. The UK Gambling Commission has issued licenses to 2,439 online gambling companies, and there are 175 casinos operating domestically. You can see what a huge number of online casinos are left, and most of them are surely not on GamStop. It is enough to find a website not on GamStop, register an account and place winning bets without any obstacles.
- VPN service: VPN allows gambling without being detected. Using this software, you can mask your IP address and become virtually ‘invisible’ for GamStop. It is enough to get the necessary software and change your location to a country that is accepted by the casino. Use the same IP address for your next logins because the casino may suspend the activity from your account.
- Shared account: It is possible to access your favorite online casino using the account of your family or friends. You can sign up to the site as a new player or use an already existing account if there is any. Use this person’s login information, make a deposit and play as much as you want. At the same time, be careful when it comes to the withdrawal of winnings since they can be requested only by the account owner.
- No-verification sites: there are gambling sites that don’t check players’ identity in order to play and get winnings. Usually, they set lower maximum withdrawal limits and may not possess any license, so you should be careful when choosing such sites for gambling.
Also, despite the abundance of online casinos, there are still enough land-based gambling destinations that offer the same exciting experience. They can be an alternative to players who can’t access online casinos.
Why Dodging GamStop Is A Bad Idea?
It is predictable that a person who was forced to stop gambling would wish to continue doing that. However, everyone who decides to opt for a GamStop scheme has already spotted a problem, so a desire to cancel it means that this person isn’t ready to combat it. This can result in the following issues:
- Loss of control. GamStop is used to regain control over excessive gambling and make this process responsible. Trying to cancel self-exclusion can give a feeling of freedom, but it prevents you from taking control of your gambling habits.
- Huge temptation: A desire to get around GamStop is a sign that you can’t resist the temptation of gambling, which should be extra cautionary.
- Addiction danger: GamStop is a way to prevent or struggle with the existing gambling addiction. And a desire to dodge it is a dangerous sign that will surely lead to more negative consequences.
No matter how much you want to cancel GamStop, it is better to avoid that. Unfortunately, this decision can lead to more severe losses and greater disappointment.
Sum Up
GamStop has become a way out for many problem gamblers. According to government statistics, people who have registered with this scheme spent 70% less money on gambling within a year. It means that GamStop continues to help gamblers cope with their uncontrolled behaviour. Even the fact that there are several ways to get around GamStop hasn’t influenced a positive effect from this approach. Therefore, you can dodge GamStop and find several ways to do that, but is it worth it? Only you should decide that!