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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.”

EMEA ESPORTS

MOVEMBER TEAMS UP WITH RIOT GAMES EMEA ESPORTS

Published

3 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

movember-teams-up-with-riot-games-emea-esports

TLDR:

Movember is partnering with the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA, and Game Changers EMEA Championship as the Official Mental Health Partner, supporting players, team staff and the wider community for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Date: January 20, 2026 [London]

What you need to know:

Riot Games and Movember announce a multi-year partnership focused on embedding mental health and wellbeing into the EMEA esports ecosystem.
The partnership will integrate mental health and wellbeing frameworks, support systems, and initiatives across the leagues.
Movember will provide tools and resources to better manage competitive pressure, build healthier habits, and be encouraged to discuss mental health openly.
Planned initiatives for the upcoming year include mental health training for players and staff, and player-only roundtables on stress and coping strategies, with a view to use this to cascade content and guidance to the wider esports community.
Movember will share messaging on the broadcasts and on-site during events that highlight the importance of mental health and help reduce the stigma around honest discussions and seeking help when needed.
Together, Movember and Riot Games aim to make the gaming environment a healthier environment for all.

Quote from Daniel Ringland, Head of VALORANT Esports, EMEA:

“Supporting the wellbeing of the VCT EMEA community, our players, and team staff is something we are committed to strengthening, so we’re thrilled to welcome Movember as a partner. While supporting open conversations and ensuring our players know trusted resources are available is a priority, this partnership also helps raise awareness around mental health and wellbeing across the wider VCT EMEA community. Movember’s expertise will help normalize these discussions beyond the competitive stage, and provide the tools so everyone connected to our ecosystem feels supported by professionals committed to making a positive impact.”

Quote from Maximilian Peter Schmidt, Director of League of Legends Esports, EMEA

“Partnering with Movember allows us to take our commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our players and teams to the next level. We want our community to feel empowered to speak openly about the challenges they face and know resources are available if needed. Gaming should be a safe and healthy space for everyone, and this partnership will help us ensure that the environment is maintained and strengthened.”

Quote from Dan Cooper, Global Director, Innovations at Movember:

“Movember is committed to bring community first solutions to today’s most urgent mental health challenges. Esports is a focus area for our work in mental health, and by working with Riot Games we aim to have a real impact and drive positive change in esports.”

The post MOVEMBER TEAMS UP WITH RIOT GAMES EMEA ESPORTS appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

2RBO Affiliates

2RBO Affiliates Wins “Affiliate Marketing Campaign of the Year” at the 19th International Gaming Awards

Published

3 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

2rbo-affiliates-wins-“affiliate-marketing-campaign-of-the-year”-at-the-19th-international-gaming-awards

2RBO Affiliates is proud to announce that it was honored with the Affiliate Marketing Campaign of the Year award at the 19th annual International Gaming Awards (IGA).

The ceremony took place on January 18th, at the Intercontinental Hotel Barcelona, bringing together the global elite from both the online and land-based gaming sectors.

The “Affiliate Marketing Campaign of the Year” is a highly competitive category designed to recognize innovative approaches to brand recognition and popularity. In selecting the winner, IGA judges evaluate the unique strategies that generate the most significant impact, drive sales, and successfully develop a business’s identity.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition from our peers and industry insiders,” said Aviv Rosenblit, Head of Affiliates at 2RBO. “This award validates our commitment to pushing creative boundaries and delivering scalable, sustainable growth for our partners through innovation and transparency.”

2RBO Affiliates continues to set the pace for the industry with its advanced platform and a portfolio of leading iGaming brands, including Betinia, Swiper, CampoBet, and ToonieBet. By seamlessly integrating unique gamification features with state-of-the-art designs, the program delivers an unmatched user experience that maximizes partner profitability and long-term engagement.

Supported by renowned industry newspaper The iGaming Post, the IGA is celebrated as the “biggest and best charity event of the year.” By winning this nomination, 2RBO Affiliates solidifies its position as a high-performance leader dedicated to fostering long-term partnerships through personalized support and innovative tracking tools.

For more information about the affiliate program and their award-winning campaigns, visit 2rbo Affiliates.

About 2RBO Affiliates

2RBO Affiliates is a high-performance affiliate program representing top-tier iGaming brands. By combining modern gamification and flexible commission models with real-time performance data and proactive compliance measures, 2RBO delivers a superior experience for partners worldwide, ensuring growth and loyalty in a competitive landscape.

About the International Gaming Awards (IGA)

The International Gaming Awards (IGA) recognizes excellence across the global gaming industry. Bringing together professionals from every tier—from mobile gaming innovators to luxury casino operators—the IGA celebrates industry leadership while raising vital funds for deserving charities worldwide.

The post 2RBO Affiliates Wins “Affiliate Marketing Campaign of the Year” at the 19th International Gaming Awards appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Eastern Europe

GameTimeTec Set to Access Emerging Markets Through QTech Games

Published

3 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Wladimir P.

gametimetec-set-to-access-emerging-markets-through-qtech-games

QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has continued to maintain the momentum in its content pipeline, thanks to its latest deal with rising star supplier, GameTimeTec, a casino developer consistently producing dynamic content across slots, arcade, crash, dice, and card genres.

GameTimeTec’s ShowTime portfolio of slots and arcade-style games always brings something fresh, with popular titles now including Lucky Clover (Hold and Spin), Glory of Olympus (Unlocked), Air Gold (Miles Jackpot), Vikings Thunder, Chimon, SpinTop, Fortune Avengers, Sugar Love, and Celtic Bash. All these games ride on the back of exceptional maths modelling that varies the volatility spectrum, helping to foster some truly engaging gameplay.

The deal organically broadens GameTimeTec’s international footprint, unlocking unmined jurisdictions for diversified growth from Asia to Africa and Eastern Europe to Latin America.

CJ Shaw, CEO at GameTimeTec, commented: “We’re naturally thrilled to have teamed up with QTech Games to improve our distribution across emerging regions, seamlessly offering our fantastic games to a range of untapped operators.”

“It’s all about delivering more high-performing games, appealing to a broader range of players across the igaming spectrum – notably, slots, arcade, crash, dice, and card games. We strive to deliver balanced gameplay mechanics, varied volatility and sophisticated maths models, giving our games global appeal.”

Philip Doftvik, CEO, QTech Games, said: “GameTimeTec’s content brings a level of energy and engagement that we’re delighted to share across our sprawling network for emerging markets. Like us, they know that localised solutions comprise the key to success across this patchwork quilt of opportunities.”

The post GameTimeTec Set to Access Emerging Markets Through QTech Games appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.