How does GAMSTOP work? GAMSTOP is a free service that blocks your access to accounts on participating gambling websites and apps for a period you choose, and you cannot cancel it until that period ends. This guide explains the registration terms, what happens when your exclusion expires and what GAMSTOP does not do.
It is one of the tools listed in our responsible football betting guide and on our responsible gambling page.
GAMSTOP at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Registration options | Six months, one year, five years, or five years with auto renewal |
| Cancel early? | No, not until the end of the minimum period |
| Cooling-off on deactivation | Minimum 24 hours |
| At expiry | Not removed automatically |
What Is GAMSTOP and What Does It Block?
The GAMSTOP website describes it as a way to take control of your gambling by blocking your access to accounts on gambling websites and apps, and says registration is free, quick and easy. It works through participating companies, which GAMSTOP lists on its site. It does not block a company that is not on that list.
How Long Does a GAMSTOP Registration Last?
You choose a minimum period at registration: six months, one year, five years, or five years with auto renewal. Under the GAMSTOP terms of use, you will not be able to deactivate your self-exclusion until the end of that minimum period. With auto renewal, you may only turn it off during the last six months.
What Happens When Your GAMSTOP Period Ends?
The self-exclusion is not removed automatically. Per the terms, you can extend it for six months, one year or five years, or contact the GAMSTOP Contact Centre to deactivate it, which carries a minimum 24-hour cooling-off period. If you do neither, it continues for up to a further seven years, then deactivates.
What Does GAMSTOP Not Do?
It does not remove the urge to gamble or help with money worries. It also only affects participating companies, so other support matters too: see the signs of problem gambling for the NHS self-check, and the free National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. GAMSTOP says registration is free, quick and easy. You pay nothing to register or extend. Be wary of any site asking for payment to join the scheme. You register on the official GAMSTOP website and choose your minimum exclusion period.
No. The terms say you will not be able to deactivate your self-exclusion until the end of your minimum exclusion period. That is the point of the scheme: it removes the option of changing your mind on a bad day. When the period ends you can extend or deactivate it.
No. GAMSTOP does not automatically remove your self-exclusion at the end of the minimum period. Unless you choose auto renewal, extend it or deactivate it, the self-exclusion continues for up to a further seven years before it is deactivated.
No. It blocks access to accounts with participating gambling websites and apps, listed on its participating companies page. Sites outside the scheme are not covered, so consider other tools and talk to a support service if you are struggling.
The Takeaway
GAMSTOP is a free, binding break from participating gambling accounts, and the length is your choice. Read the terms before you register. Betting is for adults aged 18 and over.
How we prepared this guide: The terms come from the linked GAMSTOP terms of use and website, read in November 2026; rules can change, so check the official site before you register. We are not affiliated with GAMSTOP. This is general information, not advice. The cover image is an illustrative stock photo from Pexels.
Probabilities are estimates from a statistical model built on this season's results and, where available, bookmaker prices. They are not guarantees and are not betting advice. 18+ only. Read the disclaimer.
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