GAMSTOP, the national self-exclusion program for online gambling in the United Kingdom, has released new data that highlights a record increase in young adults seeking self-exclusion services during the second half of 2024.
According to the latest report by GAMSTOP, 2024 was a record-breaking year for self-exclusion registrations, a surge that is largely attributed to major sporting events such as the Olympics and the UEFA European Football Championship.
More specifically, during the second half of 2024, there was a 14% year-on-year rise in self-exclusion registrations, marking an unusual shift from the pattern where usually the first half of the year experiences more sign-ups.
According to GAMSTOP, the number of young adults under the age of 25 registering for self-exclusion increased by a whopping 31% compared to the second half of 2023.
From here, there is a concerning trend where youngsters aged 16 to 24 accounted for 24% or nearly a quarter of all new GAMSTOP registrations.
Since it went live in April 2018 and up to December 31, 2024, GAMSTOP registered a total of 532,484 who have requested help with its self-exclusion services, a figure that represents more than 1% of the adult population in the United Kingdom.
In addition, 48% of new registrants with GAMSTOP in H2 2024 decided to request the maximum self-exclusion duration of five years, despite GAMSTOP also offering shorter self-exclusion periods such as six months and one year.
To answer this alarming trend, GAMSTOP recently introduced a new auto-renewal feature that enables users who opt out for the maximum five-year exclusion period to have their exclusion extended automatically.
This news feature was created to provide additional support for users who still feel vulnerable after their initial exclusion period ends, giving them the option to cancel the self-exclusion whenever they want.
On top of this, GAMSTOP now sends reminder emails every 15 months to inform vulnerable individuals about their current exclusion status and upcoming renewal deadline, ensuring that they don’t forget their self-exclusion period and other available options.
Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, commented on this development and said that this trend only shows the need for more targeted support in the UK:
GAMSTOP allows vulnerable consumers to take a break from gambling and we want to raise awareness of the service amongst those who need it most.
