The concerns about problem gambling have grown a huge amount in the last few years, with the likes of GambleAware, and the UKGC speaking out about the need to support and assist those who are at risk of gambling related harm. The issues in online bingo are as apparent as those in online casino play, and the biggest tool that players have to keep themselves under control is self-exclusion.
What is self-exclusion?
Self-exclusion is a deal made between a player and a gambling site that allows the player to block themselves from playing at a specific site. The self-exclusion period can take away a large amount of the temptation for a player, and has been proven on multiple occasions to be an effective tool in battling problem gambling. For those who do not feel they need the six month or year long agreement, there are also Time Out periods, which are essentially short term version of the same thing.
GamStop
For a long time, bingo and casino players had to self-exclude themselves from every individual online casino that they had signed up to, and when you consider the number of sites that exist, that can be hard work. GamStop is a government funded organisation that was created in order to put a stop to this issue by allowing players to exclude themselves from multiple sites. Signing up to GamStop allows a player to be self-excluded from every gambling site in the UK, meaning that instead of opting to self-exclude from specific sites or a specific network, and players have the choice to exclude for six months, one year, or a five year period. The phrase “when the fun stops, stop” should never be forgotten, gambling addiction is a dangerous issue, and self-exclusion is an important tool in the fight against it.