In this article, we will cover some of the most important reasons why you should not register on GamStop websites and you should play your favorite casino games somewhere else instead.
The following text will focus on several key points, such as:
- What is GamStop and how does it work?
- Why you should avoid GamStop sites?
- Top reasons why non-GamStop sites are better.
- How to be a responsible gambler without GamStop, and more.
Before we go to the list of 9 reasons why GamStop is such a bad idea, let’s briefly explain what it is in the first place.
GamStop is a self-exclusion gambling scheme that relates to online casinos in the United Kingdom, specifically the ones which are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. A player can willingly (or forcefully) be included in this quitting program, and will be banned for a certain amount of time from all UK casinos that operate online and are partnered with GamStop.
While GamStop can be considered a good solution for some hardcore gambling addicts, it is maybe not such a great scheme for regular gamblers who have their habits under control. That’s why we suggest that you try playing on websites that are not in collaboration with the GamStop scheme, and here’s why.
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Changing Your Mind
Self-exclusion programs like GamStop represent a point of no return. Once you sign up for them, you will be excluded from all UK GamStop sites for good. The minimum amount of time you can be excluded for is six months, while you can choose to be banned from online casinos for up to five years.A lot can change during this time, as your self-discipline and gambling awareness might improve. But even if they do, your ban will still be active, and you won’t be able to come back to online gambling until your ban runs out or if you “cheat” the GamStop system, which we will explain later on. On the other hand, with non-GamStop websites, you can come back anytime you want without any hassle. In other words, playing on sites that are not on GamStop won’t make you tempted to join any kind of a self-exclusion program.
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GamStop is a Failing System
Although GamStop promotes itself as a safe system for keeping you away from UK gambling sites, the truth is, in fact, that you can circumvent GamStop’s exclusion rules relatively easily. Some gamblers have found a way to sign back into their banned accounts by changing minor information details and avoid detection.If you are a former gambler who is determined to come back to gambling, you will find a way to do it, and GamStop can’t do much to stop you and will just make things a little bit more annoying. In other words, whether you decide to reactivate your casino account or not is still largely dependent on your willpower more than anything else. Here is a great video that explains how GamStop’s system is failing.
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Non-GamStop Sites Give You Unlimited Freedom
Online casinos and gambling sites which are not partnered with GamStop give their players unlimited freedom as to how they go about their gambling routines. Now, you should know that we are not promoting gambling addiction in any way, but we believe that each grownup should have their own freedom of choice when it comes to online gambling and that they don’t need any sort of online anti-gambling programs unless they are willing to quit it for good.People should do what they want, as long as their habits are not endangering the people around them.
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You Can’t Sign Up for GamStop by Accident
Playing on casino sites that are not on GamStop won’t leave you worrying that you can sign up for the program by accident. However, this can sometimes happen on GamStop sites if you’re not careful enough. Let’s say that you clicked on the wrong link and you were redirected to a GamStop registration page while mistaking it for a casino login. It can also happen that someone else set in front of your computer and accidentally signed you up for GamStop, not knowing what it is.Non-GamStop sites are not partnered with this scheme, so it would be much harder for you to end up on GamStop’s website and unwillingly sign up for their program.
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Online Casinos Not On GamStop Are Legal
It is a common misconception that non-GamStop sites are shady and illegal. People often believe that, if a website is partnered with GamStop, it gives it some extra legitimacy, when, in fact, it’s still just a casino site like every other.As long as the casino site or an online bookie has proper gambling licenses and is approved by legit gambling jurisdictions, you as a player should feel completely safe playing on it.
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Non-GamStop Sites (Sometimes) Have Better Offers
Websites that are in collaboration with GamStop represent some of the biggest brand names in the online casino industry. While these sites are pretty good when it comes to bonuses, promotions, odds, and the range of games they offer, there are still some better ones out there.Casinos that are not blocked by GamStop are usually under the radar, and not many people know about them. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are worse for players than some of the top ones. Some non-GamStop sites actually have great odds and plenty of exciting games that offer huge bonuses and jackpots.
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Non-GamStop Casinos Don’t Have Blacklists
Registering for GamStop will have your name and other personal information blacklisted from online casinos that are partnered with this program. However, even when your GamStop restriction runs out, you can still be blacklisted by some casinos. In order to sign back up with those operators, you will have to go through a painstaking process of contacting their customer support, explaining the issue, and providing them with proof that you can continue gambling.This is just a waste of time, and sometimes it doesn’t even work, so you could end up permanently banned from certain online casinos. Non-GamStop operators don’t include any kind of these blacklists, so you can be worry-free when trying to sign up with them.
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Forceful GamStop Registration Is Not an Issue
Most of the GamStop registrations are the result of the gambler’s free will. However, sometimes you will forcefully be included in the program. For example, you found a new job and your employers don’t feel comfortable having to work with gamblers. In that case, you might have to provide them with proof that you’ve signed up for the GamStop self-exclusion scheme.If non-GamStop sites didn’t exist, this would be a real issue. Luckily for you, there are hundreds of regulated online casinos that do not abide by the GamStop rules, so you can continue playing on them even if you have forcefully been signed up for the program.
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You Can Restrict Your Account Even Without GamStop
Many people think that completely excluding yourself from gambling is the only available option for you to restrict your gambling spendings. However, there are other ways to do it, and they are often provided by non-GamStop websites. Instead of blacklisting yourself for months or even years, you can simply set your account to be temporarily frozen for a short period or to get locked when you have spent a certain amount of money.This is a great compromise when it comes to controlling your gambling habits, as you can continue to play when you want, but still keep your spending under control.
Final Thoughts
Gambling addiction is a serious matter that should be discussed all the time. However, as you can see from all the things we mentioned above, programs like GamStop are not exactly an ideal solution to the problem.
There are plenty of people out there who are not gambling addicts but have accidentally, forcefully, or regretfully been signed up for the scheme. In our opinion, non-GamStop websites are better, and we hope that this article has persuaded you into thinking that as well.
If you disagree with us, or you wish to add something to the list, feel free to leave a comment in the comment section below. Your opinion matters to us, and we love hearing from our readers.
