Last Updated on June 4, 2024
Guide To Cancelling Gamstop Self-Exclusion
Gambling addiction is certainly a nuanced problem that appears in many different shades of grey, but unfortunately when it comes to the UK’s strict Gamstop scheme, things are a bit more black and white.
While you may believe you’ve bested your issues and are ready to enjoy responsible online gambling again, the reality is that removing yourself from the program isn’t so straightforward. On this page, we’ll take a closer look at how the process works and suggest other alternatives that might be of use.
How To Cancel Gamstop Self-Exclusion
To make a long story short, you can’t. As Gamstop is a scheme that has been devised to protect problem gamblers, it’d be quite irresponsible if it also allowed them to cancel their suspension period whenever they felt like playing again. As such, if you’ve previously self-excluded under Gamstop, you’ll have little choice but to serve out the remainder of your time before you can access any UKGC-licensed betting sites – and depending on your chosen ban, this could take between six months and five years.
Of course, if you genuinely have overcome your gambling problem and feel confident that you’re ready to play again responsibly, there are a number of non-Gamstop online casino sites available to you, but barring that, the actual process for ending your Gamstop suspension usually looks something like this:
- Step 1: Be patient and wait out the suspension period for your Gamstop self-exclusion
- Step 2: Contact Gamstop to let them know your ban is over and you’re ready to play again
- Step 3: Wait 24 hours for your name to be removed from the Gamstop casino blacklist
- Step 4: You will now be free to gamble at all of the UKGC-licensed sites you previously used
Benefits Of Gamstop Removal
Drawbacks Of Gamstop Cancellation
Casinos That Don’t Require Gamstop Cancellation
Naturally, whether you’re playing completely unrestricted, are patiently waiting for your Gamstop ban (called also Gamban) to end or are ready to cut it short and start playing right away, you always have the option to play at online casinos that aren’t restricted by Gamstop. As these sites are typically licensed overseas in places like Cyprus and Curacao, they’re not subject to the same restrictions as UKGC sites and are therefore able to welcome players from many different countries, even if they’re currently serving a suspension.
Of course, players must be fairly careful when choosing which non-stop casinos to play at, but if you stick to the trusted recommendations on our site, you really can’t go too far wrong. Below, we’ve included a table of our top five picks when it comes to online casinos that don’t enforce Gamstop rules:
The Best UK Nonstop Casinos
Can You Actually Cancel Gamstop?
As we’ve attempted to explain over the course of this page, the bad news for self-excluded players is that there’s no quickfire way to cancel your Gamstop suspension.
Unfortunately, that leaves customers who believe they’ve overcome their gambling issues with only two main options – either patiently wait for your suspension period to come to an end or play at a recommended non-stop casino instead.
Gamstop Cancellation FAQs
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Am I able to cancel my Gamstop ban before the suspension period ends?
No. Unfortunately you won’t be able to end your self-exclusion period early, even if you’ve genuinely overcome your gambling issues. Instead you’ll either have to wait or play at other non-UKGC casinos.
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How long does a Gamstop self-exclusion period typically last?
You will have set the duration of your Gamstop self-exclusion period when you signed up to the scheme. The minimum ban is six months, but the maximum restriction you can apply for is five years.
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Is there anything I need to do once my Gamstop suspension period is over?
Yes. If you genuinely feel that you’re ready to start playing again, your first port of call should be contacting Gamstop support and informing them your ban is over so they can unblock your account.
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What should I look out for when choosing an online casino free from Gamstop?
Important things to look out for when selecting a non-Gamstop casino include the country where it’s licensed, the number of payment methods it supports and the availability of its customer support.
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.