GAMSTOP reports a 28% rise in self-exclusion registrations in 2021
UK charity describes increase as “significant spike” as number of people to self-ban so far now exceeds 257,000
GAMSTOP has revealed in its annual report that the number of registrations to its self-exclusion platform increased by more than a quarter in 2021.
Issuing its annual review, the charity stated that there was a 28% year-on-year(YoY) increase sign-ups to its free online self-exclusion scheme from 2020 to 2021, which it branded as a “significant spike”.
Registrations increased by 25% in the first six months of 2021 compared with H1 2020. From July to December 2021, this number increased by 32% YoY, bringing the total number of GAMSTOP registrants to more than 257,000 by the end of the year.
Of those who registered for self-exclusion in 2021, 50% selected the maximum exclusion period on offer of five years, whilst one year was selected by 24%, and six months was chosen by 26%.
This is a slight shift on the overall split since the scheme was launched, which saw 55% select five years and 22% six months.
GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer said: “Understanding the profile of GAMSTOP registrants is crucial if we are to continue to ensure that we reach anybody who the GAMSTOP service can help.”
“Registrations have remained high throughout 2021. While it is hard to gauge how associated this is to the pandemic, what is clear is that self-exclusion is an increasingly important tool for those who wish to remove the temptation of online gambling.”
When looking at the split in the demographics in the review, GAMSTOP noticed that the number of women signing up to its service is growing, now accounting for 75,000 of total registrants.
However, men are still the predominant registrants as they account for 70% of the total number, while 43% are aged 25-34.
GAMSTOP also announced that most of the 257,000 people who have signed up to its self-exclusion scheme since its launch had kept their self-imposed ban in place; there is more than 235,000 currently actively excluded from gambling.
Palmer continued: “We are very lucky to have many committed partners who work hard to raise awareness of the GAMSTOP service, and I want to place on record our thanks to all of them.”
“We will continue to work hard to ensure that people have access to the tools that are essential to their recovery.”