As I’ve experienced firsthand, bingo is easily on the top of the list of the most popular pastimes in the UK. Whether you enjoy playing a 75 or 90 balls variation, I’m sure you are having a great time. On to of that bingo sites feature all kinds of fancy bingo variations that you can try and have fun with.
With the Gamstop platform out, you can restrict your access to bingo sites anytime you want. But as some players, you can feel the need to play a game or two. With an active Gamstop exclusion, you won’t be able to do it on your favorite bingo sites. Your only option is to go with bingo sites not on Gamstop.
My list of the best non Gamstop Casino sites that I have reviewed and tested:
| Rank | Rooms | Bonus | Licensed by | Features | Review... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
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100% up to £500 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 2 |
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100% up to £500 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 3 |
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100% up to £100 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 4 |
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100% up to £1000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 5 |
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100% up to £2000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 6 |
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400% up to £1000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 7 |
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300% up to £1000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 8 |
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800% up to €3000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 9 |
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750% up to £3000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 10 |
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100% up to £1000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 11 |
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650% up to £5000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 12 |
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180% up to £1500 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 13 |
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300% up to £1500 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 14 |
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150% up to £1000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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| 15 |
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200% up to £2000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
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If you want to learn more about which bingo sites not on Gamstop are trustworthy or need a further explanation of what Gamstop is, you are in the right place. Below you can find a quick overview of each website and also a guide to help you understand what Gamstop is.
Gamstop – What Is It?
Before I can tell you what Gamstop is, I need to make sure that you know what a self-exclusion tool is. A self-exclusion tool will allow you to self-exclude yourself from gambling sites. This applies to bingo sites as well. The most popular self-exclusion tools that many Brits have used so far are NetNanny and Gamban. A few years ago, the UK Gambling Commission decided to deliver the ultimate self-exclusion tool to the UK players.
This is how the public got Gamstop, the first, and if I may freely say, official self-exclusion scheme delivered by the UK Gambling Commission. You probably know that the UK gambling market is one of the most strictly regulated markets in the world. With the Gamstop in place, UKGC will ensure responsible gambling. But what’s more important, this scheme will help people minimize the risk of going through potential gambling problems.
If you think or feel that you may have a problem with gambling, you can use Gamstop to register your details. This will restrict your access to all casinos, betting, and bingo sites within the Gamstop network.
Gamstop definitely helps everyone in the industry build a better reputation both with players and the general public. Allowing players to stop playing for a longer period of time is a great way to promote responsible gambling.
To inform the players of this option, Gamstop is closely collaborating with companies in the gambling industry. Bingo sites are allowed to display the Gamstop logo in the bottom section of the homepage. This tells players that a particular site is in the Gamstop program.
The Flaws Discovered in the Gamstop System
The latest version of the Gamstop system is working as intended. But over the course of 18 months, the UKGC had several problems with it. This has prolonged Gamstop’s implementation. It explains why it remained a voluntary scheme for so long. Here are the main two problems discovered in the Gamstop self-exclusion scheme.
The Gamstop Workaround
Thanks to BBC reporters, I had the chance to read all about the Gamstop workaround. It appears that some of the players decided to use the self-exclusion scheme. After they have started the exclusion, they felt the need to play the same games on the same websites they were excluded from. They managed to do it even with Gamstop’s exclusion active.
The motivation behind the workaround attempts is less critical now. I won’t dive into the specifics to assess whether they were tempted back into betting or they simply changed their minds and wanted it again. What matters is that the system that was designed to exclude them from the websites didn’t work. At least it didn’t work as intended.
Players simply changed their email addresses and used different information details when creating accounts and the doors to the casino and bingo websites were once again open for them.
Now you may argue that this is an extra effort they have to make to be able to gamble again. And it would be fine if the system was designed to introduce a few extra steps and give players the chance to cool off. But it was designed to exclude players for a week, a month, or a year. And it failed to do so.
There is one more thing, though. You can still play bingo even with Gamstop exclusion active. But you will be able to do so only on Bingo sites not on Gamstop. More about it later on.
Bad Emailing List Synchronisation
Another problem with Gamstop was brought to my attention thanks to the reporters of The Guardian. See, Gamstop’s intricate design doesn’t only revolve around excluding players from gambling websites. It should also protect them from promotional emails bingo, and casino sites often bombard players with.
When players register on Gamstop, even if they have active email subscriptions at casinos not on the Gamstop program, they should not receive any promotional emails. As you might’ve guessed, Gamstop failed to protect players with active exclusion from receiving promotional emails from casinos.
Fortunately, the UKGC discovered the problem. It was the faulty synchronization between Gamstop’s registered users’ list with gambling companies’ subscription emailing lists. This is very bad, considering that some people with an active Gamstop exclusion possibly had serious gambling issues and were trying hard to curb their habit.
The Gamstop team fixed both of these issues, and now the scheme is ready for wide implementation.
GamStop and Bingo Gambling in the News
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge turn bingo callers in virtual visit to care home
Regular gamblers up the stakes during UK lockdown
Gamstop urges problem gamblers to self-exclude during lockdown
UK credit card gambling ban takes effect; sketchy online casino affiliates still gaming GAMSTOP
Large rise in number of problem gamblers seeking help for addiction in lockdown
GamStop to become mandatory for GB licensees
UK minister urges betting firms to do more for problem gamblers
Frequent gamblers betting more despite coronavirus sports lockdown, study says
How Does Gamstop Work?
The UKGC Gamstop self-exclusion scheme works flawlessly today, and more importantly, it is very easy to use. Gamstop network includes almost 99% of companies in the UK’s gambling market. This means that you can virtually exclude yourself from online gambling at UK gambling sites in a few simple clicks. This also includes bingo sites.
To get started, you will need to visit the official Gamstop website. The procedure is quite simple. You need to register an account. To do so, you fill out the forms on the website and verify your email address. Once you do that, you can choose how long you want your exclusion period to be.
It can range from a couple of weeks to a couple of years. Once you confirm this, you will be excluded from all the gambling sites on the Gamstop list. The exclusion doesn’t kick in immediately. It will take 24 hours for Gamstop to exclude you from the websites. During this time, your accounts will still remain unlocked.
You probably think that once the exclusion period is over, you get access to your accounts on casino and bingo websites restored. Well, it’s not exactly like that. Once the exclusion period is over, you need to contact Gamstop and ask them to lift the exclusion from your accounts.
If you change your mind and want to play bingo before the exclusion time expires, you might be out of luck. It is tough to reverse the self-exclusion, almost impossible one may argue. You still have small chances. If you want to reverse the process, you have to directly contact Gamstop and explain to them why you want to reverse the exclusion.
Since it is very hard to do it, many players with an active exclusion choose to play bingo at bingo sites not on Gamstop.
Why Are Bingo Sites Joining The Gamstop Network
Non Gamstop Sites trust the fact that almost 99% of UK gambling sites have joined the Gamstop program is staggering. What could be the possible reason for this?
Why would a company that makes a living from customers gambling promote a scheme that allows those same players to exclude themselves for a long period of time from playing on the company’s website?
After a little bit of digging around, I’ve found two possible reasons that explain this development.
Gamstop Will Become Mandatory
Gamstop should have become mandatory 18 months ago. But the hiccups mentioned above have prolonged its mandatory implementation. As you probably know, the UK Gambling Commission is the only regulatory body in the UK gambling market. This means that it not only issues licenses to casinos but also ensures that every casino operates within legal boundaries, has the right kind of policies, and so forth.
So, when a regulatory body that issues a license tells you that some self-exclusion scheme is mandatory, do you really have any other option but to hop on the wagon and implement it?
This is basically the most important reason why I’ve seen so many companies joining the Gamstop program. As soon as UKGC sets Gamstop participation as mandatory, it will mean that it is a requirement for a license. All of this automatically translates into 100% of UK gambling sites accepting the Gamstop program.
Reputation and Revenue Above All Else
Another important reason hides behind the gambling companies’ reputation and revenue. Is it better to stay in business than lose a lot of customers and get bad publicity? Yes, it may appear contradictory to advertise responsible ambling and allow players to exclude themselves while at the same time depending on the money of that same player base.
But gaining bad publicity for avoiding a program that is designed to protect and help players with potential gambling issues is worse. The experts working at UK casinos assessed the situation really well, and from what I’ve seen, around 99% of companies joined the Gamstop program even before it became mandatory.
Gamstop is Not the Same Thing as Gamcare
Don’t confuse Gamstop for Gamcare. Gamstop is UKGC’s official self-exclusion scheme which will become mandatory for all casinos operating in the UK. On the other hand, there’s have Gamcare, which is a self-exclusion scheme and then some more.
Gamcare is a famous company with goals aligned with helping players who may have issues with gambling. Gamcare is not only a self-exclusion scheme. It is a charity that uses different methods to help players with potential gambling problems. Besides the self-exclusion opportunity, Gamcare offers advice, support, and access to the Gamcare community. Players can get in contact with Gamcare experts via National Gambling Helpline.
For players’ convenience, Gamcare has several communications channels open, including forums, chat rooms, and online chat.
Things To Consider When Choosing Bingo Sites Not On Gamstop
When choosing bingo sites not on Gamstop, you have to pay attention to every relevant detail to make the right decision. Here are the most important things to consider.
Withdrawal times and options.
Not all bingo sites not on Gamstop have the same withdrawal options and times. Make sure to check the Withdrawal section for each bingo site before you make a deposit.
Online reputation.
Online reputation is also an important factor to consider. Take your team and read bingo site reviews to assess it. Nothing beats the power of combing through the experiences of other players.
The licensed casino holds.
License is a must-have even for casinos outside of the UKGC jurisdiction. The license tells you that the bingo site in question has passed all the tests and met all the requirements of the relevant regulatory body in that geo area.
Bonuses, promotions, and premiums.
Bonuses, promotions, and premiums are nice perks to have access too. Choose a bingo site that offers you the biggest bang for your buck.
How many bingo variations are there?
If you are a bingo fan, then you should make sure that the bingo site you are interested in features as many bingo variations as possible.
Trustworthy Bingo Sites Not On Gamstop
Here are some of the trustworthy bingo sites not on Gamstop. You can enjoy your favorite bingo games on these sites as well as try other variations of the bingo game.
