Record number of vulnerable people sign up to ban themselves from gambling

23 January 2024 , 15:15

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More than 92,000 people signed up to exclude themselves from online gambling (Image: No credit)

Gambling self-exclusion sign-ups hit an all-time high in 2023 with more than 92,000 vulnerable people joining the scheme, according to the newest data.

Britain's national self-exclusion scheme, Gamstop, reported a 9.5% year-on-year increase in new registrations for 2023, bringing the total number to over 433,000. Young adults were among the biggest risers on the list, with a 31% increase in signups from those aged 16 to 24 in the second half of the year.

They now account for 21% of total new registrations, up from 17%. The majority of individuals, representing 55% of total registrations, have chosen the maximum five-year ban.

Gamstop also allows users to exclude themselves for six months or one year. With a notable increase in registrations, it appears that self-exclusion is a crucial step for individuals struggling with their gambling habits, allowing them a chance to pause and seek further help.

Gamstop CEO, Fiona Palmer noted: "We are continuing to see a year-on-year increase in the number of registrants, which shows the importance of self-exclusion for anyone struggling with their gambling, alongside other blocking tools and support. We want to continue raising awareness of Gamstop to anyone who might benefit from self-exclusion and to the friends and families of anyone affected by gambling."

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"The prevalence of young adults among Gamstop's registrants shows the importance of educating younger consumers and we will continue our outreach to this age group in 2024, working collaboratively with like-minded organisations and harnessing the support of our football club partners".

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Lawrence Matheson