Self-Exclusion Schemes in the UK – Promising Changes

As we all know, gambling addiction and other relating problems are present and need to be addressed. It is not the gambling operators’, bookies’, or regulating bodies’ fault that people tend to go to extremes when it comes to wagering. But it is their task to cut the harmful tendencies back! And this is what the UK wishes to do with self-exclusion schemes that seem to be working out really well for them.

Authorities and actors in the business are trying to tackle problem gambling all over the world. There is the US and its Problem Gambling Awareness Month. There is also Gibraltar and its Problem Gambling Research Fund. Or think about the gambling blocking software developed by Unibet and Gamban. And there is another solution in the United Kingdom that seems to be more effective now than ever. They have a self-exclusion scheme in the UK that recorded an increase of 21%. That meaning more and more people are blocking themselves from gambling websites when they do not feel safe playing anymore.

Problem gambling in the UK

Why are self-exclusion schemes in the UK are important? It is of course, because many residents have problems with wagering – whether on online sites, whether in land-based options. (Though the latter is not an option for now.) According to the latest numbers posted by The Guardian – in October 2020 – there are around 280,000 problem gamblers in England alone. And ”according to a 2018 study by NHS Digital, although a YouGov survey earlier this year found there could be 1.4 million across the UK.”.

Statista.com even went into details on the topic. ”According to a March 2020 survey, the largest percentage of problem gamblers in the United Kingdom were individuals aged 25 to 34, followed by individuals aged 16 to 24 years. In comparison, merely 0.2 percent of respondents aged 65 years and older stated that they were problem gamblers.” These all imply that actions need to be done to prevent the numbers from getting worse. And self-Exclusion Schemes in the UK are one way to do so.

Self-Exclusion Schemes in the UK

Most wagers in the island nation like to just enjoy online sportsbook sites in the UK, like Betway, or simply spin some slots at online casinos. But some of them tend to go to extremes. It was especially true during the trying times of last year when they registered an increase in online betting. There is where GamStop, the national self-exclusion scheme stepped in. They did also register an increased number of self-excluding gamers during last year. And even this year! In February, GamStop recorded a 21% increase in people who were trying to block themselves from online gambling sites in the UK. After all this, the Chief Executive of GamStop, Fiona Palmer stated that she urges self-excluded people to go on and seek professional help. She also claimed that it is important to continue to promote the scheme and reach vulnerable players.

Watch out for yourself!

GamStop already has 200,000 people that signed for their services. On February 22 they had a peak day by having 326 new registrations in only 24 hours. Overall, 71% of registered users are men and 29% are women. They are mostly between the ages of 18 and 34. This means that almost anyone can have such problems. And that means you should always watch out for yourself while gambling. We advise you to keep on using your favorite sites, like Betway, while you feel safe doing so. By keeping the most important rules in mind, you will not have a problem. Just remember: never risk more money than you can afford to lose. Another thing is: betting is never a promise to win, it is just a slight possibility. With playing by these rules you probably will never have to engage in self-exclusion schemes in the UK.

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