HomeInsightsGambling Commission reiterates the need for all operators to register and integrate with GAMSTOP

The Gambling Commission has recently written to all operators reminding them of their responsibilities in respect of social responsibility code provision 3.5.5 – that requires that all online operators participate in a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme – which will come into force 1 month after the Gambling Commission confirms that the national online self-exclusion scheme (GAMSTOP) is available.

GAMSTOP will ultimately enable consumers, resident in the UK, to visit a single website and request a self-exclusion to block themselves from gambling across all British-licensed online gambling operators. The GAMSTOP website will also set out other measures that are available to help people manage their gambling and will signpost specialist advice and support services for those who might benefit from it.

The targeted launch date for GAMSTOP is spring 2018 and GAMSTOP has advised that it often takes between 4 and 6 weeks to fully integrate the operator’s live platform with GAMSTOP.

 The Gambling Commission has reiterated that only those operators who are participating in the scheme will be able to continue to provide facilities for gambling to the British market. This is because the offer to the customer is that they will be self-excluded across all online Gambling Commission licensees.  

 Accordingly, it is imperative that all operators that haven’t yet registered and integrated with GAMSTOP take steps to do so immediately.  In order to initiate the on-boarding process and gain access to the Operator Portal, operators must email support@gamstop.co.uk.