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More than a quarter of a million people now registered with GAMSTOP

Published

5 years ago

November 30, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

More than 250,000 people have chosen to self-exclude from online gambling by registering with GAMSTOP, a significant milestone in the scheme’s three-year history.

GAMSTOP has seen a spike in registrations in 2021 compared to previous years, with more than 67,000 people signing up to GAMSTOP in 2021, compared to 51,000 in 2020.

March of 2021 has been the second highest registration month in the scheme’s history to date, with 7,047 registrations. Of the 250,000 people to register with GAMSTOP, more than 228,000 are currently self-excluding through the service.

With GAMSTOP now in its fourth year of operation, the continued rise in registrations highlights its importance as a safety net to those at risk from gambling-related harm.

GAMSTOP works closely with financial services organisations and treatment providers, including Citizens Advice, Gamcare, the Northern Gambling Clinic, Gordon moody, Peer Aid and Betknowmore. The TalkBanStop project, in collaboration with Gamcare and Gamban, has also helped to raise awareness of GAMSTOP’s services this year.

Several football clubs have pledged their support to raising awareness of GAMSTOP through formal partnerships, including: Crystal Palace, Brentford, Luton, Middlesbrough, QPR, Morecambe, Preston North End’s Foundation, Bolton Wanderers, Milton Keynes Dons and Harrogate Town.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, said:

“The registration levels are higher than anticipated this year, though we cannot pinpoint one specific reason for this. We have developed the scheme to make it easier to register and have worked hard on raising our profile to make sure we are more visible to those who might need us. The effects of the pandemic might also have something to do with the rise.

The independent evaluation which took place during the first 3 months of this year showed us how effective our consumers felt the scheme had been to their ongoing recovery. This was very reassuring to the GAMSTOP team, the wider stakeholders and hopefully anyone thinking about registering. We are fully committed to improving the GAMSTOP service to make it even better next year.”

Alona Shevtsova

Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh

Published

1 hour ago

June 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

sends-ceo-alona-shevtsova-moderates-global-gaming-expansion-panel-in-riyadh

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel at The Blockchain show on 29^th June, bringing together experts from entertainment, location-based gaming, and content localisation to examine what it takes to build sustainable gaming ecosystems across emerging markets.

The panel, titled “Global Gaming Expansion: Lessons from Untapped Markets,” will structure its discussion across four themes: the growth dynamics reshaping emerging gaming markets; the role of localisation in creating experiences that genuinely connect with new audiences; the infrastructure and communities needed to build gaming ecosystems beyond the game itself; and the lessons and opportunities that will define successful expansion in the years ahead.

Alona Shevtsova plans to frame the discussion around the central challenge for companies looking to expand globally: entering a new market requires far more than bringing an existing product to a new audience. Understanding local cultures, building communities, adapting experiences, and creating ecosystems that allow gaming to grow sustainably are all as important as the product itself.

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, said:

“The future growth of gaming will come not only from new technologies, but from understanding people — their cultures, communities, and the experiences they want to be part of. Successful expansion will belong to those who can combine global ambition with local understanding.”

The first segment will examine why regions including the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia are becoming increasingly significant for developers, operators, and investors — driven by young audiences, accelerating digital adoption, and new entertainment models creating substantial growth potential. Panellists will explore how consumer preferences differ across markets and what trends among younger audiences are shaping the future of gaming and entertainment.

The third segment will broaden the lens beyond the game itself, exploring the role of location-based entertainment, gaming centres, esports, and experiential destinations in attracting new audiences and building long-term communities. Panellists plan to address how entertainment ecosystems — spanning physical venues, events, and community infrastructure — accelerate gaming adoption in markets where the category is still establishing itself.

Earlier this month, Alona Shevtsova was shortlisted for the 2026 Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Established Business of the Year category. Her team is also preparing for the Fintech Connect conference in London later this year. Sends will be a leading sponsor of this event.

*Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED, registered in England and Wales (Company No.11070048). For more information, visit sends.co .

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