GAMSTOP reports surge in self-exclusion amongst under-25s

• 31% increase in 16-24-olds registering with national online self-exclusion scheme
• GAMSTOP heat map reveals UK postcodes with highest percentages of registration

GAMSTOP, the national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, has reported a 31% year-on-year increase in under-25s registering with the service in the second half of 2024.

Consumers aged 16-24 now account for nearly one in four (24%) of new GAMSTOP registrants, a significant trend in a record year for the self-exclusion service, which featured major global sporting events including the Euros and the Olympics.

With a 14% year-on-year increase, the second half of 2024 saw record volumes, as well as bucking the usual trend of higher registrations in the first half of the year.

In total, 532,484 people have registered with GAMSTOP between its launch in April 2018 and December 31^st, 2024, which equates to over 1% of the adult UK population.

GAMSTOP has for the first time analysed detailed data to provide a regional breakdown of registration, which will help local authorities to target their services. The postcode area with the highest proportion of GAMSTOP registrants is Hull (HU), equating to 1.5% of the local population, followed by Teesside (TS) and Sunderland (SR) on 1.4%, with Doncaster and Blackpool also in the top five for self-exclusions.

In the second half of 2024, nearly half of GAMSTOP registrants (48%) signed up for a five-year exclusion – the longest timeframe available. Consumers can also choose to self-exclude for shorter periods of six months or one year.

Last month, GAMSTOP introduced a new ‘5 years with auto-renewal’ exclusion, for vulnerable consumers looking to extend their exclusion from gambling websites and apps. The new 5 -year auto-renewal option was developed in direct response to feedback from users.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, said: “The increase in the number of under-25s registering for GAMSTOP has become an accelerating trend, with a 31% year-on-year increase in the second half of 2024, following a 12% increase in the first half of the year. There is a clear need for targeted education and support aimed at this group which is why we continue to put so much emphasis on collaborating with Ygam and Gamcare reaching out to students. We go to where they are to ensure they are aware of tools, such as self-exclusion, which can help to prevent gambling harm.

GAMSTOP allows vulnerable consumers to take a break from gambling and we want to raise awareness of the service amongst those who need it most. Our detailed regional data has highlighted the postcodes where self-exclusion has been most widely adopted, and we hope this will help local authorities and other bodies to target appropriate support in the areas where the need is greatest”.