There has been much talk in the UK media in recent times about the Gamstop service. Moreover, how players are looking for gambling action outside the UK’s borders as a result. It is a hot topic and one that deserves to be looked at closer.
What is Gamstop?
Gamstop is a self-exclusion service to help those who are spending too much time and money at UK gambling sites. It is a very worthwhile operation and sets out to do a lot of good. The scheme is funded by the casino brands licensed within the UK. And this cash goes towards running their website as well as any other assistance they offer.
When a customer decides that they no longer wish to have access to casino sites, they can firstly exclude themselves from specific sites. However, this doesn’t stop them from creating other accounts with new brands.
So Gamstop brings all of the gambling operators together. And it stops anyone who self-excludes from accessing any of the websites in the UK.
One of the largest issues with the Gamstop system is that you need to select a period of exclusion. This is anywhere between 6 months and 5 years. And as anyone knows, 5 years is a long period of time.
So the gambling industry has arrived at the problem. Some players have initially selected a 5-year exclusion period. But after one or two years, they feel happy to continue with their hobby.
Gamstop is binding, and there is no way for the customer to cancel their account. This leaves them looking for casino action elsewhere. And their only choice is to look for a casino not on Gamstop.
These casinos not on Gamstop are subject to fewer restrictions than those in the UK. So they have a lot more power to attract customers to their brand. And one of those incentives is casino bonuses.
The lure of casino bonuses
It’s no secret that non Gamstop casinos offer better bonuses than their UK based competitors. As a result, there is no shortage of customers looking to create accounts with casinos not on Gamstop.
But is it these bonuses that are the main pull for customers hailing from the United Kingdom? Or are we seeing people simply looking for a way to navigate around the Gamstop restrictions?
Many say that there is some truth to both sides of the argument.
It would be naive to think that there are no problem gamblers looking for a way around the restrictions by using a non Gamstop casino. And they could well be seeking out offshore sites as a way to continue gambling. But the truth is that there are many other ways in which a gambler could have a flutter if they wanted to. And it doesn’t always involve playing at an offshore international site.
Gamstop only acts as a deterrent and it is ultimately up to the customer to stick to their program of recovery.
Welcome offers are in place to attract new customers. But everybody would agree that gambling sites not on Gamstop should only accept players that are able to enjoy their hobby responsibly. But if Gamstop data is not shared between countries, then it isn’t possible for those brands to know how to treat every new customer.
If they notice signs of problem gambling behaviour when a customer has signed up, then they should be exercising their powers to stop customers from continuing to make deposits at their site. But in the beginning, it is impossible to spot an issue.
Many UK customers target offshore sites because they are so lucrative. And the vast majority of those players are happily gambling responsibly within their limits.
Types of casino deals
These deals come in various forms and appeal to different people in their own way. Some arrive as bonus cash matching the amount of money that a player deposits into their new casino account. And depending on the promotion, this can amount to a sizable sum of cash. They can use this bonus cash to play a variety of casino games that include slots, table games and live casino as well.
Other offers are based on slot machines and these come in the form of free spins. Anyone with an affection for slots enjoys this kind of deal. It means they get to play many old and new games for free. And there is also a chance that they can win some cash prizes along the way.
Some people may be looking to casinos not on Gamstop for the wrong reasons. But it is possible that the main pull is simply for the fact that they have extra cash to create larger bonuses for customers. And this will always be an attractive incentive for all gamblers from all over the world.
