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GAMSTOP is putting vulnerable online consumers back in control

Published

5 years ago

July 14, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

More than eight out of ten (82%) consumers have stopped or reduced their gambling since registering with GAMSTOP, according to the first independent evaluation of the UK’s online self-exclusion scheme.

The report by research consultancy Sonnet, based on surveys of more than 3,300 users and in-depth interviews, found that 84% felt safer from gambling-related harm and more in control of their gambling after registering with GAMSTOP. Eight out of ten (80%) said that the self-exclusion scheme had delivered on their intended outcomes, whether they wanted to stop gambling completely, reduce their gambling or simply to take a short break.

Although financial losses were often an important trigger for registering with GAMSTOP, consumers also reported significant improvements in their well-being:

77% felt more in control of their personal or household finances
72% reported improvements in their levels of anxiety and stress
63% enjoyed an improvement in the quality of their family relationships
60% found they were better able to focus at work
40% reported they were consuming less alcohol

The report’s recommendations include:

Longer self-exclusion periods – currently, the maximum self-exclusion is five years, which had been selected by 71% of consumers surveyed, but four out of ten wanted the option of excluding themselves from all online gambling for longer
Helping consumers to access specialist support – 53% of GAMSTOP’s users have not previously used gambling-related support services so the scheme can be a bridge to other organisations offering help with gambling addiction by working more closely with them
Actively engaging with family and friends of consumers – only 28% of consumers were supported by friends or family, with many too embarrassed or ashamed to seek help, so raising awareness of the service among those affected by a loved one’s gambling will provide a broader support network for consumers and their families
Responding to the threat posed by unlicensed gambling websites – The scheme’s users are deliberately targeted by unlicensed sites – an issue highlighted in GAMSTOP’s response to the DCMS Gambling Act review – and 10% reported accessing them while self-excluded so greater controls on these sites are required to prevent them being exposed to temptation
More research into the harmful effects of advertising – consumers consistently expressed their frustration at being exposed to gambling advertising and wanted greater protection

More than 200,000 consumers have registered with GAMSTOP since the scheme’s inception in 2018. The report found that GAMSTOP had reached a broad cross-section of the population across all demographic groups.

Women aged over 44 were identified as an important demographic, making up 53% of all women surveyed, and the report recommends reaching out to older age groups more generally, together with specific initiatives aimed at people with below national average income. It advocates a marketing strategy to target high-risk groups, making the service more visible through online searches and on operators’ websites.

The report concludes:

“This study shows very strongly that GAMSTOP is successfully achieving a reduction in gambling-related harm with far-reaching positive impacts for consumers being clearly shown in our interviews and survey… Our findings show that GAMSTOP is effective across all age groups, gender groups and, importantly, for all types of online gambling.

The vast majority (of consumers) report a very positive experience of using the service, and our research highlights that it is effective both in terms of delivering consumers’ objectives but also in alleviating a wide range of gambling-related harms”.

An office worker in his 30s, who was spending up to £300 per spin on online slot machines and ran up debts of more than £10,000, registered with GAMSTOP after his partner left him and he feared losing his job. He told researchers that, having self-excluded for five years, he felt safe from temptation during lockdown and has stopped gambling completely. He is now paying back his debts to family and friends and said: “I think this service saved my life. Best thing I ever did is cancel my demons by using this amazing service”.

A delivery driver in her mid-twenties, who was spending almost her entire weekly wage on gambling, and had tried self-excluding from individual websites, found that registering with GAMSTOP helped her take control of her gambling. She is getting married this year and has built up her savings. With the support of her family and partner, she has restricted herself to the occasional £5 bet on football at high street bookmakers and intends to renew her self-exclusion every five years to resist the temptation of betting online.

She said: “The last year I haven’t gambled at all, it was hard at first but now I don’t miss it and the money I have saved is unbelievable”.

Fiona Palmer, chief executive of GAMSTOP, said:

“We are grateful to Sonnet for carrying out this very detailed evaluation of the service and are studying their recommendations carefully. We are delighted to know that vulnerable consumers who have registered with GAMSTOP have found it has helped them control their gambling and made a positive impact on their lives.

The insights in this report are extremely helpful and we welcome the opportunity to look at all suggestions for further improvements to the service, including extending the length of the maximum exclusion period to give them peace of mind that they will benefit from the long-term protection that GAMSTOP provides”.

Industry News

SPAYZ.io Launches P2P Agent Dashboard for High Risk Merchant Payment Operations

Published

14 minutes ago

March 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

spayz.io-launches-p2p-agent-dashboard-for-high-risk-merchant-payment-operations

SPAYZ.io has announced the launch of its new P2P Agent’s Dashboard, a centralised and automated operating system to help merchants in high‑risk industries manage agent networks, reconcile transactions and scale alternative payment methods across global markets. Built for sectors including iGaming, Forex and Crypto, the new dashboard replaces fragmented and manual workflows with a unified platform offering complete visibility and automation.

SPAYZ.io’s dashboard consolidates agent activities into a single, exportable system where transactions are recorded in real time, merchant callbacks are instant, and balances update automatically.

Unlike generic CRMs, the platform is specifically designed for P2P transactions. It automates commission calculations, reduces errors associated with manual pay‑in and pay‑out tracking and provides finance teams with a reliable and audit‑ready source of truth. Through integration with the SPAYZ.io gateway, merchants can connect agents across more than 35 markets, ensuring consistent workflows, faster GEO expansion and smoother onboarding as their P2P operations scale.

Tatjana Meluskane, CCO at SPAYZ.io, said: “P2P agent networks are essential for high‑risk merchants, but they’ve been extremely difficult to manage at scale. Our new dashboard centralises workflows, improves transparency, and removes the operational friction that limits GEO expansion and slows down growth.

“We listened to our partners and clients, took on board all of their needs, and have built this platform to give merchants complete clarity. I’m proud to say this is a market first, offering complete clarity with a new level of control and stability for businesses that rely on alternative payments.”

SPAYZ.io is also supporting merchants with round‑the‑clock operational and technical assistance, including incident management, route adjustments and customisable configurations. This ensures that payment models can be adapted quickly to market conditions without placing additional strain on merchant teams.

“The launch reinforces SPAYZ.io’s commitment to building infrastructure that supports the evolving needs of high‑risk merchants and strengthens the company’s position as a leader in local payment solutions across high‑growth regions,” Tatjana said.

The post SPAYZ.io Launches P2P Agent Dashboard for High Risk Merchant Payment Operations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Fredrik Liljewall CEO at PlayStar

Strive Gaming Partners with PlayStar Casino to Expand Presence in New Jersey

Published

14 minutes ago

March 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

strive-gaming-partners-with-playstar-casino-to-expand-presence-in-new-jersey

Strive Gaming, the contemporary multi-state, multi-tenant platform provider designed for the North American market, has unveiled a new collaboration with prominent online casino operator PlayStar.

According to the agreement, Strive will offer its top-tier PAM technology, aiding PlayStar’s ongoing expansion throughout North America. PlayStar is set to transition its New Jersey operations from its existing player account management (PAM) provider to the Strive platform, with subsequent launches planned in more regulated areas, such as Ontario and Alberta in Canada.

PlayStar chose Strive after a comprehensive assessment as it sought a platform partner that could facilitate its long-term goals throughout North America. Strive’s exclusive emphasis on the U.S. market, along with the robustness and scalability of its technology, distinguished it as the obvious partner of choice.

Max Meltzer, CEO at Strive Gaming, said: “PlayStar is a highly ambitious operator with a clear vision for building one of the leading casino brands in North America. They were looking for a platform partner that understands the realities of operating in the U.S. and Canada and can support them as they scale across multiple regulated markets.

“Our focus on North America, combined with the strength and flexibility of our platform, made this a natural fit. Both companies are on strong growth journeys and share similar ambitions for the region, so we’re excited to support PlayStar as they continue to expand.”

PlayStar Casino has quickly established itself as one of the success stories of the regulated North American casino market. The company has successfully built meaningful market share and a strong player following. Partnering with Strive marks the next stage in its growth strategy as it looks to expand further across North America.

Fredrik Liljewall, CEO at PlayStar, added: “As we continue to scale our presence across North America, selecting a platform partner with a strong regional focus and the ability to support our long-term ambitions was critical.

“Strive’s technology, deep understanding of the North American market, and collaborative mindset made them the clear partner for PlayStar. We look forward to working closely together as we migrate our New Jersey operations and expand into additional jurisdictions, including Canada.”

This partnership marks another important milestone for Strive Gaming, which now supports more B2B PAM customers in the U.S. than any other platform provider. The addition of PlayStar further strengthens Strive’s growing portfolio of operators and reinforces its position as a supplier of choice for ambitious brands looking to launch and scale in the North American market.

The post Strive Gaming Partners with PlayStar Casino to Expand Presence in New Jersey appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

1spin4win

1spin4win reveals key 2025 performance results, including a 56% surge in GGR

Published

17 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Wladimir P.

1spin4win-reveals-key-2025-performance-results,-including-a-56%-surge-in-ggr

The studio reflects on a successful 2025, marked by major performance milestones, new partnerships, and continued market expansion. Among the year’s key achievements was a 56% increase in GGR compared to 2024.

One of the primary drivers behind this growth was the strengthening of collaboration with clients. Last year, the 1spin4win company reached the milestone of 1,000 global partnerships. The slot provider is now trusted by leading aggregators, including SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, EveryMatrix, Alea, Digitain, and BetConstruct, among others.

Throughout 2025 and in 2026, the studio’s month-to-month retention rate consistently exceeded 40%, highlighting strong, long-term player loyalty. The main contributor to this figure was the 1spin4win portfolio of over 190 classic online slots, regularly updated with four, sometimes five, monthly releases. In 2025, the provider launched 52 titles, presented 10 branded games for partners, and introduced 12 new mechanics.

Recognized for their well-balanced gameplay and transparent math models, 1spin4win’s classic offering also contributed to a robust 64.24% surge in player count and a 52.06% rise in bet count.

Olga Hlukhovskaya, Business Development Director at 1spin4win, shared, “2025 was an outstanding year for us. Alongside the continued success of our slots, our expansion into both new and existing markets also played a significant role in this growth. While maintaining a strong presence in Europe, we significantly strengthened our position in Latin America and Africa. We’re excited to carry this momentum into 2026 and push our games and partnerships even further.”

About 1spin4win

1spin4win is a trusted game provider founded in May 2021 by ambitious developers with over 15 years of experience in the gambling industry. Since its inception, the company has expanded its portfolio to include over 190 classic online slots, all characterized by quality mathematics, transparent mechanics, and well-balanced gameplay — key factors that drive strong player retention. The studio aims to release an average of four new games each month in 2026 and offers effective promotional tools for casino operators to help them enhance player loyalty.

The post 1spin4win reveals key 2025 performance results, including a 56% surge in GGR appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.