GAMSTOP Self-Exclusion Help and Support

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Quick answer If you are on GAMSTOP and looking for casinos not blocked by it, the urge is real and it will pass. Keep your block. Call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133, any time, or use GamCare's live chat or WhatsApp. Adding blocking software and a bank gambling block closes the gaps GAMSTOP cannot reach.

On this page

1. Why are some casinos not blocked by GAMSTOP?
2. How do you make your block stronger?
3. What if you searched "how to gamble when on GAMSTOP"?
4. What about "casinos not on Gamban"?
5. Where can you get support?
6. For family and friends
7. What if you have already used a site not on GAMSTOP?
8. What can you do today to strengthen your block?
9. Guides in this hub

This hub is for people who have self-excluded, or who are thinking about it, and for the people who love them. There are no casino links anywhere in this section. There are only ways to get support and make your block stronger.

Why are some casinos not blocked by GAMSTOP?

GAMSTOP is a free scheme that blocks "your access to accounts on gambling websites and apps", in its own words. Operators licensed in Great Britain take part. A casino that is not licensed in Great Britain is outside the whole UK system, so it is outside GAMSTOP too. The Gambling Commission says it is illegal for such sites to offer gambling to people here, but it is also candid that "it is not possible to eliminate illegal gambling entirely".

That gap is not a flaw in you or in your decision to self-exclude. It is the reason extra layers help.

How do you make your block stronger?

1. Keep GAMSTOP up to date. GAMSTOP says you "should keep your details up to date so the block can continue to protect you", and you can extend your registration from your account. Its helpdesk is on 0800 138 6518, 10am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
2. Add blocking software. Blocking software stops gambling sites loading on the device where it is installed, whether or not they are licensed. BeGambleAware lists free gambling blocking tools.
3. Ask your bank about a gambling block. Where your bank offers one, it stops card payments to gambling merchants.
4. Consider GAMSTOP Betting Shops if you also bet in person. GAMSTOP links to it from its homepage.
5. Tell one person. Secrecy is what makes it easy to slip.

What if you searched "how to gamble when on GAMSTOP"?

Then this is the right page, even if it is not the answer you were looking for. We will not tell you how to get around your block. We will tell you that the feeling you have right now is common, that it peaks and fades, and that there are people available at any hour who will not judge you.

• Delay for an hour. Decide later, and do something physical in the meantime.
• Close the pages. Lists of casinos not on GAMSTOP are written to keep you scrolling.
• Call or message. 0808 8020 133, or GamCare's live chat or WhatsApp on the same number.

What about "casinos not on Gamban"?

People search for this when blocking software has stopped them reaching a site. That means the software is working. If you feel you need to get around it, that is a sign to add support, not remove protection. Keep the software on, and consider asking someone you trust to hold any password you use to change its settings.

Where can you get support?

• GamCare, National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133, 24/7, with live chat and WhatsApp. It also offers peer support forums and chatrooms.
• BeGambleAware: free advice, tools and support, including a service finder for local, confidential help.
• GAMSTOP: gamstop.co.uk, helpdesk 0800 138 6518, webchat and email.
• Gamblers Anonymous UK: meetings for people who gamble, at gamblersanonymous.org.uk.
• Gam-Anon UK and Ireland: meetings for family and friends, at gamanon.org.uk.

For family and friends

Gam-Anon describes compulsive gambling as "an emotional illness" and runs meetings for "anyone who has been affected by a loved one's gambling problem". It notes that Gam-Anon and GA meetings "are usually held on the same nights but in separate rooms", with each kept confidential. GAMSTOP also has guidance for supporting a loved one, including registering your own details so they cannot be used to gamble. The National Gambling Helpline supports family members too.

What if you have already used a site not on GAMSTOP?

Be kind to yourself, and be practical. Stop depositing. Keep records of your balance and messages. Ask your bank about blocking further gambling payments. You can report the site to the Gambling Commission in confidence. Then talk to someone, because the hours after a relapse are when support helps most.

What can you do today to strengthen your block?

GAMSTOP is a free self-exclusion service that blocks your access to accounts on UK-licensed gambling websites and apps. It works well for what it covers, but it cannot reach sites that are not licensed in Great Britain. That is why it helps to layer your protection. Three steps take only a few minutes each.

First, install blocking software on every device you use, including phones, tablets and laptops. BeGambleAware lists free blocking tools, and these can stop gambling websites and apps from loading at all, whether they are licensed here or not. Second, turn on a gambling block with your bank if it offers one. It stops card payments to gambling merchants. Third, tell someone you trust. Gam-Anon supports people affected by someone else's gambling, and a trusted person can help you notice when the urge is building.

If you are having a hard moment right now, you do not have to work through it alone. The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free on 0808 8020 133, available 24 hours a day, with live chat and WhatsApp too. Talking to an adviser does not commit you to anything. It is simply a conversation with someone who understands.

This hub will never show you a casino or an offer. Every page in it points to support.

Guides in this hub

We are adding guides on getting through an urge while on GAMSTOP, what to do when blocking software stops a site, why some sites are not blocked by GAMSTOP, and help for family members.

Your questions, answered

Why are some casinos not blocked by GAMSTOP?

GAMSTOP covers UK-licensed gambling websites and apps. A casino that is not licensed in Great Britain is outside the UK system, so it is outside GAMSTOP too.

How can I strengthen my GAMSTOP block?

Keep your GAMSTOP details up to date, add blocking software to every device, ask your bank whether it can block gambling payments, and tell someone you trust.

I want to gamble while on GAMSTOP. What should I do?

Delay, close the pages and call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, free and 24/7. The urge peaks and fades, and talking to someone helps it pass.

How do I contact GAMSTOP?

Its helpdesk is on 0800 138 6518, 10am to 8pm, 7 days a week, with webchat and email at helpdesk@gamstop.co.uk.

Where can family members get support?

Gam-Anon UK and Ireland runs meetings for anyone affected by a loved one's gambling, and the National Gambling Helpline supports family members too.

Where our facts come from

1. GAMSTOP, checked 29 Sep 2026
2. GamCare: National Gambling Helpline, checked 29 Sep 2026
3. BeGambleAware, checked 29 Sep 2026
4. Gam-Anon UK and Ireland, checked 29 Sep 2026
5. Gamblers Anonymous UK, checked 29 Sep 2026
6. Gambling Commission: How we tackle illegal gambling, checked 29 Sep 2026