A new study has found that the UK’s multi-operator self-exclusion schemes, including GAMSTOP, have had positive impacts on players using them. The new study was conducted by IPSOS on behalf of GamCare as a follow-up to a baseline and short-term impact evaluation of self-exclusion schemes carried out in 2019.
Self-Exclusion Schemes Effective in Addressing Problem Gambling
The latest study involved interviews with 30 of the 42 users of self-exclusion schemes who previously participated in the 2019 evaluation. Participants in the follow-up research were mostly positive about the effectiveness of self-exclusion in reducing their problem gambling behavior.
The majority of them also confirmed at the time of the interview that they were still self-excluded from gambling through one or more schemes.
The latest report noted the effectiveness of GAMSTOP, a free online gambling self-exclusion scheme that was mostly used by participants along with other schemes to reduce their problem gambling behavior.
Improvements Still Needed
Despite the success of the schemes, the study also identified several challenges, with some participants revealing they were able to continue gambling by circumventing the rules at land-based venues or by playing at unauthorized offshore gambling sites.
The report listed a number of recommendations to improve self-exclusion schemes, such as allowing for more flexible self-exclusion time lengths for customers, including a lifetime period.
Other recommendations relate to improvements to the operators’ marketing methods, with some participants reporting that they had received promotional materials from gambling firms despite being self-excluded.
Some of the participants also said they’d prefer automatic re-enrolment when their self-exclusion period lapses.