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Record sign-ups in 2021 push GAMSTOP registrants beyond 200,000

Published

5 years ago

April 6, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

GAMSTOP recorded its highest ever day for registrations in February 2021
An average of 5,500 people per month have registered since launch in April 2018
96% keep self-exclusion in place once the initial exclusion period has expired

More than 200,000 people are now registered with GAMSTOP, the free, independent national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, after a spike in numbers during lockdown.

Registrations in February 2021 increased 21% year-on-year, with nearly 6,500 people choosing to exclude themselves from all UK-licensed sites, which followed a 14% year-on-year increase in January when more than 7,000 people registered. There were 326 registrations on February 22^nd, the highest daily figure recorded in GAMSTOP’s history.

The 200,000 landmark, which was not expected to be reached until later in the year, coincides with the first anniversary of a shake-up in the self-exclusion system. From March 31^st last year it became a licensing requirement for all online operators to be registered with GAMSTOP.

According to the Gambling Commission, the total number of online bets rose by 12% from November to December 2020, and the trend towards more online gambling may be leading to more vulnerable individuals choosing to exclude themselves from all sites.

In January 2021, 49,328 GAMSTOP-excluded individuals out of a possible 177,038 attempted to gamble and were successfully blocked by the scheme. While this demonstrates the effectiveness of GAMSTOP, it also highlights that self-exclusion is not a silver bullet for those with a gambling addiction, who should always seek treatment alongside blocks they have in place.

GAMSTOP advocates a layered approach to tackling problem gambling and is collaborating with GamCare and Gamban on the TalkBanStop campaign, which promotes the use of a range of practical tools and support via The National Gambling Helpline.

Registration with GAMSTOP is free, with people asked to fill in personal details and select an exclusion period of six months, one year or five years. More than 120,000 of those who have registered chose to put in place a five-year exclusion, the longest term possible.

GAMSTOP was launched in April 2018 and, of those who chose shorter self-exclusion periods, and therefore became eligible to remove themselves from the scheme from October 2018 onwards, 96% left the exclusion in place. Since that date, 15,400 have removed their exclusion only to reinstate it.

Recently, the number of women registered with GAMSTOP surpassed 50,000, and the gender split on the scheme is 71% male, 29% female. 18-34 year-olds are the most prolific age group using GAMSTOP, accounting for 59% of all registrants.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, said: “We’re pleased that GAMSTOP is serving as an effective safety net, providing crucial breathing space to those who are struggling with their gambling. With the rate of registrants continuing to rise, I would urge anybody putting self-exclusion from online gambling in place through GAMSTOP to also seek treatment. Awareness around self-exclusion schemes and blocking software has been increasing throughout the last year, and it is important that we continue to spread the message about what help is available to those who need it most.”

Matt Blanks, 35, is a recovering gambling addict who registered with GAMSTOP after his addiction led to him trying to take his own life. He now uses his experience to help other suffering with the addiction.

He said: “Signing up to GAMSTOP was a massive relief to me. I had previously had to self-exclude with each individual operator, and would simply move onto the next site who I hadn’t self-excluded from. It was like a game of whack-a-mole, and I kept relapsing. GAMSTOP helped me self-exclude from all online gambling sites in one go, giving me space to clear my head, seek support and kickstart my recovery journey.”

Australia

RTG Announces Evive Australia as the First Innovation to Take the Stage at Pitch!

Published

2 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Niji Narayan

rtg-announces-evive-australia-as-the-first-innovation-to-take-the-stage-at-pitch!

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Regulating the Game (RTG) has announced Evive Australia as the first innovation to take the stage at Pitch! – part of the annual RTG gathering in Sydney in March.

The event will take place at the famous Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2026, as part of the sixth edition of the international regulatory and industry conference.

Evive is an app designed to help people change how they play or seek support for gambling harms. Created by Sam DeMello, a tech specialist drawing on his lived experience of gambling harm, and supported by Jay Robinson, a safer-gambling expert with over two decades of harm-minimisation and prevention experience, Evive Australia aims to deliver personalised tools, resources and pathways for anyone seeking to reduce risk or access help.

“Evive brings together real-world experience, clinical expertise and technology to create an accessible and credible platform for change. Pitch! was conceived to spotlight exactly these kinds of innovations – ideas that challenge convention, improve safeguards and reimagine the future of regulation and industry practice,” said Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch and founder of Regulating the Game.

“Evive isn’t just another app, it’s a bridge between lived experience, behavioral science and practical support. It shows that compliance and compassion can coexist, and when they do, everyone benefits. The app gives regulators and operators confidence in credible harm reduction tools, while giving people a safe, stigma free path to change,” Robinson said.

The post RTG Announces Evive Australia as the First Innovation to Take the Stage at Pitch! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

bet365

Hacksaw Gaming Goes Live with bet365 Brazil

Published

2 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Niji Narayan

hacksaw-gaming-goes-live-with-bet365-brazil

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Celebrating yet another market expansion together, Hacksaw Gaming and bet365 are now live in Brazil, via Light & Wonder.

Currently sporting their very own superhero in the form of the branded Spinman slot, bet365 Brazil users can look forward to an array of Hacksaw Gaming slots becoming available very soon.

Hacksaw and bet365 already boast a long-standing partnership, with content live in a notable amount of markets, including Mexico, Ontario and the UK. This is yet another standout go-live that highlights both their relationship and their shared ambition of bringing innovative, quality content to users worldwide. By continuing to expand alongside industry leaders like bet365, Hacksaw reinforces its commitment to delivering boundary-pushing content to players worldwide, while strengthening its position as a key supplier in regulated markets.

A spokesperson at bet365 said: “We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Hacksaw Gaming into the Brazilian market. Our players are always looking for fresh and engaging content, and Hacksaw’s portfolio has proven time and again to deliver exactly that. We’re confident this expansion will be a big hit with our growing audience in Brazil.”

Marcus Cordes, Operational CEO of Hacksaw Gaming, said: “Going live with bet365 in Brazil is a proud moment for us. Latin America is a key growth region for our industry, and to expand with one of the biggest names in the industry showcases the strength of our content and the trust we’ve built through our partnership. We look forward to entertaining new players with our unique and innovative titles.”

The post Hacksaw Gaming Goes Live with bet365 Brazil appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Africa

Shacks Evolution Announce Strategic Partnership with Moja Group

Published

2 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Niji Narayan

shacks-evolution-announce-strategic-partnership-with-moja-group

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Shacks Evolution Studios, a leader in mobile-first gaming innovation, has announced a strategic partnership with Moja Group Inc., the parent company of Mojabet, one of Africa’s top online betting platforms.

This collaboration aims to redefine Africa’s iGaming experience through locally inspired, high-performance digital entertainment. As part of this partnership, Shacks Evolution Studios is launching two exclusive instant games: Mojawheel and Moja Citadel fully customised for Mojabet users.

These titles will be accompanied by a broader rollout of Shacks Evolution’s instant games portfolio, now accessible to audiences across multiple African markets.

“At Shacks Evolution Studios, we believe in creating games that resonate with the environment and culture of the people playing them. This partnership with Moja Group allows us to bring cutting-edge gameplay to millions while staying true to the realities of Africa’s digital landscape, including low network availability and diverse cultural tastes,” said Kwame Mensah, CEO of Shacks Evolution Studios.

“This collaboration is about more than just gaming, it’s about celebrating African creativity and delivering world-class entertainment with a local touch. By working closely with Shacks Evolution Studios, we are offering our Mojabet users something truly unique, games that feel like they were made just for them,” said Amina Diallo, Chief Marketing Officer at Moja Group Inc.

The post Shacks Evolution Announce Strategic Partnership with Moja Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.