GAMSTOP registrations surge by 25% in first half of 2021
The total number of gamblers who have used the free tool to self-exclude stood at 218,000 by the end of June 2021
GAMSTOP has reported a 25% jump in registrations during the first six months of 2021 compared with the same period last year.
In the first bi-annual review of the UK’s free national scheme for self-exclusion from online gambling, over 40,000 people registered with GAMSTOP in the first half of the year, with March being the second-highest month for registrations.
By the end of June 2021, the total number of registrants stood at 218,000, with a gender split of 70% male and 30% female.
The statistics also suggest that younger people are more likely to exclude themselves from online gambling as 41% of registrants were in the 25-34 age bracket, a figure rising to 59% when taking into account the wider 18-34 age bracket.
“While it is encouraging to see that consumers are continuing to find GAMSTOP and use it as a crucial safety net in their recovery, this review reinforces the importance of continuing to raise awareness of practical tools that are available to those struggling with gambling-related harm,” said GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer.
“Our evaluation results demonstrate that gambling-related harm is an issue that affects people from all walks of life, irrespective of income, location or gender.
“It is imperative that we continue to reach people from across the UK, and to give them access to tools that can aid them in their recovery, or form an important preventative measure,” she added.
The survey of 3,300 registered users found that the ethnic makeup of GAMSTOP users corresponds with the broader UK population (89% white, 3% Asian, 2% Black and 1% Mixed).
The socio-economic situation of respondents also varied, with 29% living in households with a pre-tax income of more than £48,000 per annum and 48% in households earning more than £32,000 per year.
Meanwhile, more than three-quarters were in full or part-time employment and 63% had no children in their household.
Stacey Goodwin, a recovering problem gambler and GAMSTOP registrant, said: “It’s encouraging to see that the number of registrations for a vital service like GAMSTOP is increasing, but it also shows the significant amount of gambling in our society.
“More needs to be done to support and get the word out about crucial safety nets and services, like GAMSTOP, to ensure that vulnerable people know about them, and most importantly that they use them.”