Our history

Gamstop was established by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) at the request of the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) and the Gambling Commission. Its remit was to design, introduce and run a national online gambling self-exclusion system to the meet the aims of the Gambling Commission's licence conditions and code of practice.

The board was appointed to devise a framework for the self-exclusion scheme.

An independent chair was appointed to make Gamstop more autonomous.

Three more independent non-executive directors were appointed to the Gamstop board and legal ownership of the organisation changed.

It became a condition of licences for all operators who take business from British residents to integrate with the Gamstop scheme. This meant that any of their customers registered with Gamstop would not be able to gamble. This condition was in addition to operators’ own self-exclusion schemes.

A requirement was introduced for all operators to check their entire customer base for Gamstop registration at least every 24 hours. This ensured that people registered with Gamstop would not receive direct marketing from any online gambling service of which they were or had been a customer.

Gamstop partnered with GamCare and Gamban to promote the TalkBanStop campaign. This encouraged a layered approach to practical tools and support. This included talking via the National Gambling Helpline, banning access to gambling sites by installing Gamban for free, and stopping the use of online gambling accounts by registering with Gamstop.

The consultancy Sonnet Advisory & Impact performed an independent evaluation of Gamstop Online (formerly GAMSTOP). The evaluation found that Gamstop "is successfully achieving a reduction in gambling-related harm", with 80% of respondents reporting that the scheme delivered on their intended outcomes.

To accommodate for the acquisition of Gamstop Betting Shops (formerly MOSES), Gamstop Group was formed to serve as a parent company for Gamstop Online and Gamstop Betting Shops.

The Multi Operator Self Exclusion Scheme (MOSES) – now Gamstop Betting Shops – became part of Gamstop Group. Founded in 2016, the scheme enables consumers to self-exclude from bookmakers for free via a single phone call.

Following the acquisition of the Multi Operator Self Exclusion Scheme (MOSES) for betting shops, a rebrand was needed to help bring the two schemes together. GAMSTOP was renamed Gamstop Online, while MOSES was renamed Gamstop Betting Shops. Both schemes are operated by the parent company Gamstop Group.