GAMSTOP records nearly 50,000 new users in 2024 while average age of registrants falls
UK self-exclusion scheme has averaged almost 2,000 new users every week so far this year as total number of participants since launch rises to 482,815
GAMSTOP has recorded 49,494 new registrants so far in 2024, taking its total number of users up to 482,815.
April alone saw 8,686 people register with the gambling self-exclusion scheme, the highest number of monthly registrations since the organisation was formed in 2018.
While one in two registrants were aged between 16 and 35, there was a 12% year-on-year (YoY) increase in the number of 16 to 24-year-olds excluding themselves from all online gambling sites.
Euro 2024 also appeared to play a part in the number of registrations to GAMSTOP. The scheme saw an 8% increase in registrations for the first half of July when compared to the same period in 2023, which coincided with the tournament’s knockout stages.
GAMSTOP also experienced abnormally high volumes of registrations on three separate days during the tournament.
These were 17 June (the day after England’s group stage victory over Serbia), 1 July (the day after England’s last 16 win over Slovakia) and 15 July (the day after the final).
Overall, 49% of registrants signed up for a five-year exclusion, which is the longest timeframe currently offered by GAMSTOP.
Furthermore, the vast majority of people (71%) who registered with GAMSTOP in the first half of the year were male.
Speaking about the findings, GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer described the rise in younger people self-excluding as “particularly concerning”.
She said: “The increasing number of registrations we have seen in the first half of 2024 could reflect a growing awareness and proactive approach among individuals to tackle gambling-related issues.
“Particularly concerning is the 12% year-on-year rise in registrations among 16 to 24-year-olds, indicating the urgent need for targeted support for younger age groups and preventative education to this demographic.”
A study commissioned by GAMSTOP and YGAM, published in March 2024, showed 46% of students in the UK who gamble were betting more than they could afford.
Palmer concluded: “GAMSTOP’s mission remains steadfast: to provide a crucial safety net for those struggling with gambling. The continuing rise in registration figures affirm the importance and effectiveness of our service in helping people reclaim control over their lives.”
GAMSTOP recorded a record number of registrations in 2023, with more than 92,000 people signing up for the service.