Our history

Gamstop Online (formerly GAMSTOP) was established by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) at the request of the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) and the Gambling Commission. Its remit was to design, introduce and run a national online gambling self-exclusion system to the meet the aims of the Gambling Commission's licence conditions and code of practice.

The board was appointed to devise a framework for the self-exclusion scheme.

An independent chair was appointed to make Gamstop Online more autonomous.

Three more independent non-executive directors were appointed to the Gamstop board and legal ownership of the organisation changed.

It became a condition of licences for all operators who take business from British residents to integrate with the Gamstop Online scheme. This meant that any of their customers registered with Gamstop Online would not be able to gamble. This condition was in addition to operators’ own self-exclusion schemes.

A requirement was introduced for all operators to check their entire customer base for Gamstop Online registration at least every 24 hours. This ensured that people registered with Gamstop Online would not receive direct marketing from any online gambling service of which they were or had been a customer.

Gamstop Online partnered with GamCare and Gamban to promote the TalkBanStop campaign. This encouraged a layered approach to practical tools and support. This included talking via the National Gambling Helpline, banning access to gambling sites by installing Gamban for free, and stopping the use of online gambling accounts by registering with Gamstop Online.

The consultancy Sonnet Advisory & Impact performed an independent evaluation of Gamstop Online (formerly GAMSTOP). The evaluation found that Gamstop "is successfully achieving a reduction in gambling-related harm", with 80% of respondents reporting that the scheme delivered on their intended outcomes.

To accommodate for the acquisition of the Multi Operator Self Exclusion Scheme (MOSES) for betting shops, Gamstop Group was formed to serve as a parent company for Gamstop Online and MOSES.

The Multi Operator Self Exclusion Scheme (MOSES) became part of Gamstop Group. Founded in 2016, the scheme enables consumers to self-exclude from bookmakers for free via a single phone call.

Market research and consulting firm Ipsos published the second independent evaluation of Gamstop Online (formerly GAMSTOP). The evaluation found that Gamstop "is an effective tool for reducing gambling-related harm for individuals seeking to exclude themselves from online gambling operators".