GamStop Casinos: Guide & Favourite Picks

Online gambling can be a lot of fun, but for some people, it can lead to problems when that bit of fun spirals into a full-blown addiction. It's estimated that there are over 400,000 problem gamblers in the UK alone.

Luckily, several excellent organisations have been designed to help players for whom gambling could or already has become problematic. One such organisation is GamStop.

GamStop is an independent self-exclusion programme that is offered for free to anyone resident in the UK or Northern Ireland. The organisation's flagship self-exclusion option allows players to quickly and easily register to be excluded from gambling at participating UK online casinos and betting sites.

Once registered with GamStop, players are prevented from betting using existing online gambling accounts. Still, they can also not open new ones using the details provided to GamStop at the registration time. Users can update their details anytime, ensuring the exclusion remains in place.

GamStop is used by over 100,000 people and has helped reduce participants' gambling habits by an average of 70%, making it a highly recommended choice to regain control of problematic gambling behaviour.

List of the Best GamStop Casino Sites

It's important to realise that not all GamStop casinos are created equal. While participating online casino in GamStop's programme is a good indication of the operator's dedication to responsible gaming, other factors also come into play.

Here we present you with our carefully curated list of the top 10 best GamStop casinos, all of which have outperformed their competitors in terms of responsible gaming tools and resources, but also licence status, player perks, games quality and quantity, customer service and a raft of other metrics. Choosing highly reputable online casinos will ensure your experience is fun, exciting, safe, and manageable.

Here is a quick list:

1. Mr Vegas Casino

2. Barz Casino

3. Grosvernor Casino

4. LeoVegas Casino

5. William Hill Casino

6. Betfair Casino

7. Bet365 Casino

8. Platin Casino

9. Casino.com

10. Betway Casino

1. Mr Vegas Casino

Mr Vegas Casino holds not one but two very respected industry licences, one from the Malta Gaming Authority and the other from the UK Gambling Commission, and it's the latter, of course, that means they are also one of GamStop's participating online casinos.

Launched in mid-2020, Mr Vegas Casino is reminiscent of other popular online casinos, but the brand has a style and collection of promotions that make it unique. Highlights of the casino include Rainbow Fridays, the jackpot-filled Wheel of Vegas and the competitive head-to-head slots tournaments called Encores.

While many online casinos hide the links to associated organisations in the footer, Mr Vegas Casino places the GamStop logo and its corresponding link right at the top of the page next to its proudly presented UKGC logo.

Within the Responsible Gaming section of the site, there is a part about GamStop, explaining how the service works and how to take advantage of it if you feel your gambling has become problematic.

Other responsible gaming resources available here include links to Be Gamble Aware and Gambling Therapy, tips for the protection of underage, the brand's self-exclusion programme for six months to 5 years, deposit, wager, loss and max. bet limits, reality checks and an account lock for shorter self-exclusions.

Mr Vegas Casino is also known for its well-manned support service, which can be reached by 24/7 multilingual live chat, phone and email.

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2. Barz Casino 

Another hot contender as one of the best GamStop casinos is Barz Casino, which came onto the scene in 2021 with its fresh and bright site. The brand is, of course, a reference to classic slots, which usually feature Bar symbols on their three reels, so it's no surprise that the brand focuses on providing players with a wide range of slots to play from some of the world's leading developers.

In addition to the many online casino slots, table games and live dealer games featured at the site, players rave about the brand's various promotional offers, such as gadget and holiday draws, weekly cash prizes and a rewarding loyalty programme.

Barz Casino holds licences from the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission, two of the world's most highly respected issuing authorities, so you can be sure that the online casino is scrutinised to ensure player safety and fairness of hosted games.

At the bottom of the site, Barz Casino highlights its dedication to keeping players safe by featuring Be Gamble Aware, Bet Blocker, GamCare and GamStop links, with the 18+ logo reminding players of its commitment to preventing underage gambling.

Featured on the site's Responsible Gambling Policy page are details of various helpful tools such as deposit limits, game time reminders, account closure, timeouts and self-exclusion from six months to 5 years. You'll also have full access to your account history to track deposits and withdrawals.

Also available is a checklist of tips to ensure your gambling activity remains under control. A short questionnaire asks you to consider various aspects of your activity to assess if there might be a problem.

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3. Grosvenor Casino 

Most UK players will already be aware of the Grosvenor brand, which has been running land-based casinos both within the UK and in Belgium and Spain since the 1970s. The award-winning giant, which the Rank Group owns, finally created an online presence in 2007, with its already solid reputation resulting in a substantial following of players.

Grosvenor Casino's main perks include a respectable collection of slots, jackpot games, table games, live casino games, poker software, sports betting, and an impressive collection of player promotions and Grosvenor Casinos Membership, which entitles members to a host of both online and offline rewards.

Licensed by both the Gibraltar Gambling Commission and the UK Gambling Commission, Grosvenor Casino's reputation affords them a lot of trust from players, but the brand goes many steps further.

At the bottom of their site, you'll find GamStop, GamCare and Be Gamble Aware, with references to the site's commitment to preventing underage gambling.

The online casino's Responsible Gambling link links to a separate site called Keep It Fun that's been set up specifically to address player protection resources across the Rank Group's entire portfolio of brands, both online and off.

Tools offered by the site include deposit limits, reality checks, account locks from 24 hours to six weeks, and self-exclusion from six months to 5 years. The brand also offers 24/7 access to a dedicated Safer Gambling team.

Added protection for players comes from the site's use of IBAS, the Independent Betting Adjudication Service, to deal with any disputes that may arise.

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4. LeoVegas Casino

Recognisable by many thanks to the brand's array of UK television advertisements, LeoVegas Casino came online in 2012, presenting players with an impressive collection of slots, jackpots, table games, bingo, live casino games and sports betting.

Playing heavily on the brand's lion design, this online casino works hard to reward its players with various perks. Still, numerous helpful articles and tutorials guide players through the various available games, which indicates a focus on the player's experience.

Having won a slew of awards in recent years, LeoVegas Casino is no stranger to recognition for the quality of its platform and games. Still, dues must also be paid to the brand's commitment to responsible gaming, with an entirely separate site dedicated to the topic presented at LeoSafeplay.com.

Aimed at preventing both problem gambling and underage gambling, the site invites visitors to complete a self-assessment before offering details of the various tools that are also available, which include deposit, loss, wagering and session limits, and the brand's self-exclusion. You'll also be able to keep track of your activity via time alerts and access to your deposit and withdrawal history.

All tools are summarised on the LeoVegas Casino website under the folding Safer Gambling tab, with links to industry organisations, including Be Gamble Aware, GamStop, Gambling Therapy, Bet Blocker and GamCare, all located in the site's footer.

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5. William Hill Casino

Another giant in the gambling industry, William Hill, is perhaps better known for its competitive sports betting markets in its many offline bookies and online via its website. However, the brand's online presence also includes access to many games, including table games, slots, poker, live casino games and even online bingo gambling.

Established in 1998, William Hill is one of the oldest brands still operating in the industry and thus benefits from a gold-plated reputation with players. William Hill Casino operates under the regulation of various licensing authorities, including the Malta Gaming Authority, the Gibraltar Gambling Commission and the UK Gambling Commission, so the level of scrutiny on the brand is intense, which is good news for players.

Along the bottom of the website, you'll find an array of logos linking to prominent organisations, including Be Gamble Aware, Gamblers Anonymous, Gambling Therapy, GamCare, GamStop and the TalkBanStop campaign.

Of course, part of the UKGC's regulations require operators to have their player protections, and William Hill Casino hosts their details in the help pages. There you'll find information about the brand's various safer gambling tools and resources, which include deposit limits, session time reminders, short timeouts, product blocking, self-exclusion for six months and account closure. A page dedicated to UK players is also available, providing helpful information on implementing the available tools and tips on managing your gambling.

Located on another part of the website is William Hill's anonymous interactive self-assessment tool to help you ascertain whether you may have or may be at risk of developing a gambling problem.

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6. Betfair Casino

Licensed by both the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission and launched in 2000, Betfair Casino is another of the most popular GamStop casinos, with Betfair well known for being one of the first in the industry to offer more competitive sports betting markets via an exchange setup.

With a name like Betfair Casino, it's easy to assume that the brand focuses on player safety and fairness, and this assumption isn't unfounded. Along the bottom of the website, you'll find an array of links to various industry organisations, including Gambling Therapy, GamCare, Be Gamble Aware, the Take Time To Think campaign and, of course, GamStop.

You'll also be comforted that Betfair Casino has been ranked as an Advanced Level 2 (2nd highest level) assured business by the Safer Gambling Standard. This independent organisation assesses the level of player protection offered by industry operators.

Betfair Casino takes player protection seriously, as indicated by the fact that all of their tools and resources, plus a collection of outside help, can all be found on the brand's standalone website.

Referring to its original goal of enabling smart betting, the Betfair brand highlights that part of betting smart is knowing how to maintain control, with numerous tools to help players do just that, including deposit and loss limits, session timers, timeouts, reality checks and self-exclusion. Players can also take advantage of a handy budget calculator and self-assessment.

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7. Bet365 Casino 

Another brand that's perhaps better known for its competitive sports betting markets, Bet365 Casino, is a very popular GamStop casino that was launched back in 2000. The brand presents many online gambling activities, including live and pre-match sports betting, fantasy sports, slots, table games, live dealer games, bingo and poker.

Holding various licences, including those issued by the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission, Bet365 Casino's commitment to player protection and safer gambling is illustrated by the multitude of links to helpful organisations in the site's footer. Featured there, you'll find the likes of Be Gamble Aware, Gambling Therapy, GamCare, GamStop and the 3-pronged advertising campaign, TalkBanStop.

Via the Safer Gambling link at the top of the page, visitors can access the full suite of Bet365's player protection tools and resources on an entirely dedicated website. You'll be able to learn more about and implement useful tools such as deposit limits, timeouts, reality checks, a budget calculator and self-exclusion.

Numerous informative pages also discuss how gambling works, offering tips on identifying gambling problems and busting common myths, which players may find helpful.

Another focal point of the site is the need to protect those who are underage, with a page dedicated to the topic offering tips for how to keep minors away from gambling sites. The brand also does a good job of drawing attention to the fact that visitors can also find support for friends and family.

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8. Platin Casino 

Run by Viral Interactive Ltd., licensed by the UK Gambling Commission to run the UK-facing version of the site, Platin Casino was launched in 2017, but the brand has been running since around 2013.

The site is very visual, with a lot of screen space given to the presentation of the game images. At the same time, however, it's easy on the eyes, thanks to a dark theme. Games are offered by various developers, with hundreds of titles on offer across numerous categories.

The site's footer links to all the relevant industry organisations created to help players maintain healthy gaming habits and overcome problematic behaviour. These include Be Gamble Aware, GamCare, Gambling Therapy and GamStop. There's also a link to the current campaign, Take Time To Think, which offers further useful information and resources.

All UKGC-licensed online casinos are required to offer players a range of tools and resources, and Platin Casino hosts all of theirs on the Responsible Gambling page. There you will find some helpful reminders of what healthy gambling should entail and when you might develop problems with the activity.

Available tools to help you manage your gambling experience at Platin Casino include deposit, loss, wagering and session limits, timeouts of between one and six weeks, and self-exclusion from 30 days to 5 years. It's handy that self-exclusion from Platin Casino also carries through to the operator's other online casinos.

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9. Casino.com

The operator behind this much sought-after URL is Mansion Europe Holdings Ltd., whose dedication to player protection has been recognised in the not-too-distant past by their 2018 award for Most Responsible Online Gambling Operator.

Launched in 2007 and licensed by both the Gibraltar Gambling Commission and the UK Gambling Commission, Casino.com offers more than 1,000 slots, table games, live dealer games, video poker and jackpots to its healthy fanbase. A high-quality 24/7 support team offers excellent service, with the brand awarded Best Customer Service Company 2020.

Also, the links to GamCare, Gambling Therapy and GamStop, which feature about halfway down the homepage, are a testament to the site's commitment to player protection.

At the top of the homepage, you'll find a Safer Gambling link, which takes you to a page featuring useful information, checks, tools and resources for maintaining healthy habits. These include the brand's ten rules for safer gambling, tips for protecting those under 18, a short self-assessment, how to access your account history for tracking deposits and withdrawals, reality checks, financial limits, timeouts of between 24 hours and six weeks, and self-exclusion from six months to 5 years.

Casino.com also points out that many banks and financial institutions offer blocking facilities, which gives players another weapon in their arsenal against problematic and uncontrolled gambling behaviour.

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10. Betway Casino

Betway Casino is another multifaceted site that presents players with slots, table games, live dealer games, jackpots and video poker and sports and esports betting. The brand has been running for around 20 years, launching in 2002, and holds a UK Gambling Commission-issued licence.

Many UK residents will already be familiar with the Betway brand as it is the prominent sponsor of the English Premier League football team West Ham United, the Cheltenham Festival horse racing event, and many other well-known sporting endeavours.

Player confidence is further bolstered at Betway Casino by the fact that several independent organisations scrutinise the brand to ensure safety and fairness, including the Independent Betting Arbitration Service, the International Betting Integrity Association and eCOGRA.

Also proudly displayed on the Betway Casino site are links to GamCare, Gambling Therapy, Be Gamble Aware, Bet Blocker and GamStop. The website's 2 Safer Gambling links open a popup, headed up by their catchy tagline, Bet The Responsible Way, which plays on the site's name.

Tools and resources on offer include deposit limits, session reminders, self-assessment, taking breaks, self-exclusion and account closure. Links to helpful tips and advice are also featured.

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How GamStop Works

GamStop works by asking for a few personal details from you, such as your name, address and proof of identity (e.g. driving licence), then comparing these details to existing accounts at UK-licensed online gambling sites.

Once you've registered with GamStop, any attempt to bet at a UK-licensed online gambling account that matches the provided details will be prevented, and you will not be able to gamble.

One of the most useful aspects of GamStop is that not only can it prevent you from being able to gamble using your existing accounts, but it also stops you from opening any new accounts using the same details.

This preemptive form of exclusion is made possible by the UK Gambling Commission's licensing rules. These state that all UK-licensed operators must check new registrant details against the GamStop database every 24 hours to ensure that anyone listed is unable to open a new account.

Of course, this approach has a few holes, but for the most part, GamStop works well in preventing people with potential gambling problems from accessing their online gambling accounts and opening new ones.

Let's dig a little deeper into how GamStop works.

Register on GamStop

There are two parts to the registration process at GamStop, but only one is essential for taking advantage of this organisation's service.

The first part of the registration process involves providing your details and verifying your identity. The registration form will ask for your full name, date of birth, postal address, email address and phone number. You'll need to provide all of your multiple email addresses and phone numbers. You should also include any previous addresses.

Once you've filled in your details, GamStop will ask for proof of identity, usually your driving licence or passport. You'll be asked to take a selfie and photos of the front and the back of your driving licence or passport.

If you don't have these or any other forms of photo ID, the GamStop team will ask a few verification questions based on the details in your credit file.

You'll then be asked how long you want to be excluded from all UK-licensed online gambling sites: six months, one year or five years.

The second part of the registration process involves opening an account at GamStop. This is not essential for your self-exclusion to be activated, but it's handy for adding or updating contact details and checking or extending your exclusion period.

What Happens When Registered

The GamStop registration process only takes a few minutes, and once it's complete, you'll get an email confirmation. This email will recap the details of the exclusion you've just requested, but it will also include other helpful resources for regaining control of your gambling habits.

GamStop will also encourage you to open an account with them if you didn't do so during the sign-up process. While this isn't essential, it will make updating your details easier if you move or get a new phone number or email address.

It can take up to 24 hours after registration for your self-exclusion to come into effect. Once that happens, you will not be able to gamble online using any existing accounts or open any new ones with the details you entered during sign-up.

Remember that activating your self-exclusion does not automatically result in any funds at existing sites being returned to you. You'll need to contact them directly if you want to withdraw any funds at these sites.

Your self-exclusion will be in place for at least the period you have chosen, six months, one year or five years, and you will not be able to cancel it before. Once the period has passed, the exclusion will not be lifted automatically. You will need to contact GamStop directly to remove the exclusion.

Who is Behind This Organisation

GamStop is owned by an independent not-for-profit organisation, The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited. This company is entirely separate from the gambling industry and the government, making it an unbiased third party. Its sole purpose is to help players exclude themselves from online gambling sites to regain control over problematic gambling habits.

GamStop was first set up in 2017 to help the UK Gambling Commission meet the aims of its licence conditions and codes of practice. The organisation was created to design and run a free national online self-exclusion system that anyone could use.

After appointing a board to create such a tool in September 2017, GamStop was officially launched to the public on April 25, 2018, with 150 operators already included in its database upon launch.

An independent chair was appointed in September 2018, and by the end of 2019, GamStop had added another three independent board members to increase its autonomy. Most notably, on March 31, 2020, the UK Gambling Commission made it mandatory for all UK-licensed online gambling sites to integrate GamStop alongside their self-exclusion scheme.

From April 2020, GamStop required all participating operators to carry out database checks every 24 hours as an extra measure to prevent registrants from receiving gambling marketing materials. In December 2020, GamStop partnered with GamBan and GamCare to create an advertising campaign called TalkBanStop featuring a three-pronged approach to dealing with problem gambling.

The Good and Bad of GamStop

To help you decide if GamStop's service is worth taking advantage of, here's a look at the pros and cons:

Worst GamStop Casinos

It's important to realise that while GamStop is a useful tool to help you regain control of your gambling habits, it is not a failsafe. Just because an online casino participates in GamStop's programme does not automatically make it a responsible site.

Some of the worst GamStop casinos operate using questionable practices and don't always have the players' best interests as their priority.

For example, one of GamStop's requirements means participating operators must check their customer records against GamStop's database every 24 hours to ensure that no listed registrants have slipped through the net. This check is also designed to stop GamStop members from receiving advertising from online gambling companies, a vital part of the process. Still, not all participating operators carry out this step, with very little accountability.

It's also not unheard of for the least popular GamStop casinos to continue accepting bets from excluded players. We like to think that this is an honest mistake, and in many cases, it is just that, but unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous operators out there.

Even despite holding one of the most respected gambling licences in the world, some sites are rather lax in their compliance with the regulations that underpin their licence agreement, including following GamStop's requirements.

Participating in the GamStop programme is a good sign of a responsible online gambling site, but remember to check out other aspects of the site to ensure that it has the player's best interests as a top priority.

Non-GamStop Casinos: Reasons to Avoid Them

The GamStop website features a Participating Companies page that lists all the online gambling sites that currently comply with GamStop's self-exclusion programme, with more than 130 on the list at the time of writing this article.

However, around 221 online casino sites currently hold a UK Gambling Commission licence. That means some of these sites are not participating in GamStop.

In addition, hundreds of online casinos that the UKGC doesn't license still accept players from the UK, so they aren't participants of GamStop's programme either. Here's why these non-GamStop casinos should be avoided:

• Player safety, not a priority: Though not always the case, a refusal to participate in GamStop may indicate that the operator doesn't take player safety and responsible gambling very seriously
• Not UK-licensed: Casinos not on GamStop might hold a licence by another issuing authority that is not as honourable as the UKGC
• No guarantees: Non-GamStop casinos may have their self-exclusion programmes, but they are not independent, so there are no guarantees regarding their quality

Participating in the GamStop programme is a good sign that the online casino takes responsible gaming seriously, so those that don't are best avoided.

Our Thoughts on GamStop

While many safe UK casinos offer their self-exclusion programme, they are unlikely to offer the same level of unbiased quality as GamStop.

Being an independent operation set up specifically for players, GamStop offers its members an effective and irreversible way to prevent them from gambling at UK-licensed online casinos and other gambling sites. And the best part is it's completely free for users.

We like how quickly and easily players can set up a self-exclusion, with three different periods for members to choose from. Plus, once that self-exclusion is in place, it cannot be removed until the allotted time has passed, which is extremely important for those whose gambling habits have spiralled out of control.

GamStop not only prevents players from gambling using existing accounts, but it also stops them from opening new ones, although that's only the case for UK-licensed sites.

Despite the possibility that players could face permanent expulsion from some online casinos even after their self-exclusion has ended, we think GamStop is an extremely important tool for players.

Participating in GamStop's programme generally indicates that an online casino takes responsible gaming seriously and looks after its players, so it's worth seeking these sites out.

FAQs on GamStop Casinos

Want to know more about GamStop casinos? Check our FAQs below.