How Long GamStop Lasts

As it stands, GamStop is intended to be a fixed-term self-exclusion. Once you've chosen a period — six months, a year, or five years — you cannot remove the exclusion early. You must wait until the full period ends before you can request removal.

What GamStop is and who runs it

GamStop is an online self-exclusion scheme that covers participants who want to be blocked from all registered online gambling sites, whether managed by participating operators or not. Known by the acronym GAMSTOP, the multi-operator scheme launched in April 2018 with oversight from the Gambling Commission to "stop people gambling online where they have been self-excluded."

Can you end it early?

You cannot end a GamStop exclusion early by your own request; it will not be removed before the minimum period you chose has finished. The only thing you can do is stop your exclusion at the end of the chosen period, and the removal requires notifying GamStop and serving out a 24-hour cooling-off period. Here's how it works:

• Requesting early removal: GamStop notes that you may ask to deactivate self-exclusion but you must contact the GamStop Contact Centre. Though you can take action after your exclusion period ends
• Cooling-off period: GamStop's terms say that you must complete a 24-hour cooling-off period starting after your contact ends to request deactivation under GamStop's program. No gambling access is allowed during this time.
• No express early removal: Beyond the request and cooling-off period, GamStop confirms directly that "No, we cannot remove anyone’s exclusion early." This despite the minimum periods, which include options such as six months.

What happens when it finishes

Be ready to not assume anything is going to happen on expiry. You will not be granted any automatic removal or access. You must contact the GamStop Contact Centre while processing removal (which follows set rules, not arbitrary choice). Complete the process per user protocols listed above.

What to combine it with

An online self-exclusion scheme like GamStop can help, but Standing down from gambling may need more resource to combine.

The practical next step

Having read this, your next practical step is important. First, check your GamStop account or help centre to confirm your exclusion status and your chosen end date. Then, only once the full minimum period has ended, contact the GamStop Contact Centre to request removal and serve out the 24-hour cooling-off period, at which point an exclusion should be lifted.

• Email: [email protected]