Self-exclusion in Britain is not left to each operator's goodwill. Every company holding a remote operating licence must offer self-exclusion from inside the customer's account, and must participate in the national scheme, GAMSTOP. That participation is a licence condition — social responsibility code provision 3.5.5 of the Commission's LCCP, in force for all online licensees since 31 March 2020 — and the Commission has suspended licences over it. One registration covers all of them at once.
That single fact is the most practical argument for checking a licence before depositing.
What one GAMSTOP registration does
- Blocks you across every online operator licensed in Great Britain, for six months, one year or five years.
- Applies to new accounts as well as existing ones, so you cannot simply open a fresh one.
- Cannot be lifted early by the operator, and marketing must stop.
What it cannot reach
Sites without a British licence. GAMSTOP works through licensed operators. A site outside the regime is not connected to it, has no obligation to honour anything, and has no British regulator to escalate to. This is where "is this casino licensed?" stops being a technicality.
Land-based venues. GAMSTOP is for online. Physical casinos, bookmakers and arcades run their own self-exclusion schemes.
Accounts under different details. The scheme matches on the identity you register. That is also why licensed operators are required to verify who you are before you play.
How to check that an operator is covered
Search the exact domain in the Gambling Commission's public register and confirm the status is Active. On 15 September 2026 there were 139 active remote casino licences covering 501 domains — the full extract is at best online casinos.
If a site is not there, GAMSTOP does not reach it, and neither does anything else.
FAQs
Does GAMSTOP block every online casino?
It blocks every online operator licensed in Great Britain, because participation is a licence condition (LCCP social responsibility code 3.5.5, in force since 31 March 2020). It does not reach sites operating without a British licence, and it does not cover land-based venues.
How long does GAMSTOP self-exclusion last?
You choose the minimum period when you register: six months, one year or five years. An operator cannot lift it early.
Can I self-exclude from just one casino?
Yes — licensed operators must offer self-exclusion from inside your account. GAMSTOP is the option that applies across all of them at once.
What if a site ignores my self-exclusion?
If it holds a British licence, that is a breach you can report to the Gambling Commission. If it does not hold one, there is no British regulator to report it to — which is the difference the register makes.
What this has to do with our work
Responsible-gambling tooling is not only a licence obligation: its absence on the landing page is one of the commonest reasons a gambling certification is refused. At Basher the landing review happens before the campaign is switched on, not after — that is what media buying with pre-clearance means.
Responsible gambling
Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over and can be addictive. Free, confidential support is available from BeGambleAware and GamCare. If you are thinking about it, register today rather than tomorrow.