Last Updated on July 25, 2024
What Are Online Casinos Not On Gamstop?
Easily the most dramatic growth in online gaming in the last few years has been found with casinos not on GamStop. These have gone from relative obscurity to extraordinary popularity because they have one strength that UKGC casinos literally cannot match — GamStop resitrctions do not apply to them.
In this article we’re going to dive into what it means to be a non-GamStop casino and, more importantly, why non-GamStop sites are important for you and all other UK casino players. Let’s get right into it.
What is a Non GamStop Casino?
In the UK, there is an online service designed to help addicted gamblers to recover — it’s called GamStop. The way GamStop works is that players voluntarily sign themselves up and self-exclude from all participating casinos.
Since every online casino that’s licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is automatically a GamStop partner, in practice this means that self-exclusion with GamStop prevents you from logging in, depositing or wagering at any of the thousands of UKGC casinos.
A non-GamStop casino is one that exists outside of these restrictions and is not affiliated with the UKGC. Players that are actively self-excluding with GamStop can play without restriction at casinos not on GamStop. So, of course, can everyone else.
UKGC Licensed Alternatives to Non GamStop Casinos
It is a legal requirement that every single casino licensed by the UKGC is part of GamStop and there are no exceptions. If you’re currently signed up to GamStop and are ready to return to online gaming, it is simply impossible to do so at any UKGC-licensed premises.
You can’t even create a new account with a new email address or fake information. Why? Because UKGC accounts also do their ID verification upfront and you must submit valid ID. Since your ID is linked to GamStop, your account setup will always be rejected. That’s why non-GamStop sites exist: to give players more options.
More About Nongamstop Online Casinos…
The reality is that a lot of people are unhappy with GamStop. It does an excellent job of banning those that genuinely need self-exclusion, but it can cause problems for those that used to have gambling issues and, in rare cases, for people signed up to GamStop without their consent.
It’s this dissatisfaction among UK players that has led to a sharp rise in the number and variety of casino sites not on GamStop — so let’s learn a little more about them.
The biggest red flag waved around by UKGC proponents is that non-GamStop casinos are inherently unsafe. But remember, GamStop is a website blocking technology — it has no bearing on whether a site is safe or not. More importantly, the UKGC is just one of many casino licensing companies. Licences from overseas territories like Curacao and Gibraltar aren’t limited by GamStop, but they’re also not remotely unsafe.
Casinos not on GamStop still have to do their due diligence. They still need to guarantee payments, randomise games and protect player data. Sometimes they’ll have an overseas licence, other times they’ll be self-regulated — so how do you tell the good from the bad? Reputation. Use online reviews and your own digging in a site’s T&Cs to figure out if they’re legit. In our experience, most non-GamStop casino sites are perfectly legitimate. In fact, you can often make even more money from them thanks to the generous bonuses and volatile games.
Non-Gamstop Casinos At A Glance
- Are not licensed by the UKGC and therefore not required to participate in Gamstop
- Instead hold licenses issued by overseas territories such as Curacao, Malta or Gibraltar
- Not all non-Gamstop casinos offer their services to UK players, but the vast majority do
- Remain accessible to players who signed up to Gamstop, even if they are self-excluding
- Maintain high security standards by using SSL encryption and audit games for fairness
What Are The Main Differences Between Gamstop and non-Gamstop Casinos?
Okay — that was a lot of information. Let’s take a minute to compare the specific differences between GamStop casinos (not to be confused with casinos not on Gamban) and UKGC-licensed casinos. The key differences are:
| Gamstop Casinos | Non-Gamstop Casinos | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Hold a UKGC license issued by the British Gambling Commission. | Hold a license issued elsewhere, such as a Curacao Egaming license. |
| Problem Gambling Protection | Signed up to the Gamstop program and offer voluntary self-exclusion service lasting a minimum of six months. | Not signed up to the Gamstop program, but usually offer voluntary self-exclusion on request from the customer. |
| Site Security | Typically feature 128-bit SSL encryption to protect payment details and other sensitive information. All games are independently tested for fairness by a third-party auditor. | Feature the same security measures as a typical Gamstop casino, including 128-bit SSL encryption and independently audited games that have been verified fair and random. |
| Games | Offer slots, table games and live casino titles supplied by the industry’s biggest software providers. Some casinos may also offer bingo, poker and sports book. | Offer slots, table games, live casino titles and more from many of the industry’s biggest software providers, though brands like Microgaming do not feature. |
| Payment Methods | Accept major credit/debit cards such as Visa and Mastercard, eWallets like PayPal, Neteller and Skrill, pay by phone service Boku and direct bank transfer. | Often accept American Express in addition to Visa and Mastercard, but do not offer PayPal payment. Many sites accept payment in cryptocurrency. |
Clearly both UKGC and non-GamStop casinos have their pros and cons. The biggest advantage of GamStop is, naturally, its ability to keep addicted gamblers safe from destructive behaviour. For those who need it, GamStop really is a fantastic tool.
However, there are pretty significant weaknesses. For a start, GamStop casinos must be registered with UKGC and work within its rules. But what if another jurisdiction’s licence has advantages? There is also some debate about the quality of games between the two options, but non-GamStop casinos are typically less constrained and are able to offer a more diverse lobby.
But the juggernaut is paying methods. Absolutely zero Gamstop casinos allow players to use credit cards and only the barest fraction are onboard with cryptocurrency. By contrast, American Express is common among non-GamStop casinos and cryptocurrencies are not just available, but extremely popular.
If you want self-exclusion, choose Gamstop. If you want a better playing experience with no restrictions, choose casino sites not on GamStop.
What Gambling Sites Are Not On GamStop?
As of 2024 there are hundreds of casino sites not on GamStop, all of which are available to UK players regardless of previous history. A full list would make this page too long, but we’ll pop a shortlist of our current favourites down below.
Because non-GamStop sites are so popular now, there are new sites being released every single month, many of them with deep and high quality games lobbies, big bonuses, diverse payment options (like crypto) and quality site architecture. You need to make sure your non-GamStop casino is legit and trustworthy, and the best way to do that is by simply following our vetted and ranked recommendations:
FAQs
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Is it safe to play at online casinos?
Yes. Whether you’re playing at UKGC-licensed Gamstop casino or an off-shore licensed non-Gamstop casino, you can do so safe in the knowledge that in order to gain their respective certification, they will have had to pass numerous checks to prove the safety of their site and fairness of their games.
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Are non-licensed casinos that accept UK players safe?
Playing at a non-licensed online casino is always a risk, no matter what country you’re accessing it from. Without a license, players have no assurances over the safety of their funds and personal details and you are therefore far better off sticking to the sites that have been tried and tested by us.
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Can I win money playing casino games not on Gamstop?
While taxes on gambling winnings vary from country to country, in the UK online casino games are not considered to be games of skill and are therefore exempt from any form of tax. If you are accessing an off-shore non-Gamstop casino from the UK, you won’t be taxed on any profit you make.
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Is Curacao a serious gambling jurisdiction?
Yes. Curacao is a long-standing and highly respected provider of igaming licenses and any casino displaying a Curacao Egaming license will have been subject to a number of strict security checks.
Kith Brown is a seasoned online gambling expert with over a decade of experience in poker, casino, and sports betting. He earned a 1st Class Honours degree in Sport Journalism in 2006, and his work has been featured in top industry publications such as Poker Player, Bluff Europe, Gambling Online Magazine, and Gambling Insider.
Kith recently completed a four-year stint as a Senior Copywriter and Copy Team Lead at Entain, where he led the production of written content for renowned brands like bwin, PartyCasino, and Sportingbet. His extensive experience writing for and about the biggest names in online gambling gives him a unique perspective on the industry. He looks forward to sharing his insights with readers on NonStopCasinos.com. For questions, comments, or topic suggestions, please reach out to him through the contact form.