Self-exclusion on the rise among young British
•
8 Aug 2024 •
Reading time: 2 minutes Self-exclusion, a measure to protect oneself from gambling, is experiencing a worrying increase among young British people aged 16 to 24. The figures released by GAMSTOP, the organisation responsible for managing the self-exclusion system in the United Kingdom, are clear: the number of young people registering on the blacklist increased by 12% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year.
The average age of players self-excluding themselves is tending to fall, with half of the new registrations recorded during the first six months of the year being between the ages of 16 and 35.
A surge in registrations
The phenomenon is not limited to young people. A total of 49,494 new users registered on GAMSTOP between January and June 2024, an increase of 3% compared to the previous year. The total number of participants in the scheme has now reached 482,815 people.
These figures reflect a growing awareness of the dangers of gambling. However, the sharp increase in the number of registrations, particularly in April with a record 8,686 new users, highlights the scale of the problem.
A mainly male audience
The typical profile of a self-excluded player is a man under 35. Indeed, 71% of new registrations concern men, and almost half of participants (49%) have opted for a five-year exclusion, the maximum duration proposed by GAMSTOP.
Faced with this situation, Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, stressed the need to set up prevention and support programmes specifically tailored to young people.
Euro 2024, an aggravating factor
The excitement surrounding the Euro 2024 football tournament has had a significant impact on the number of registrations on GAMSTOP. Registrations increased by 8% in early July compared to the previous year, with peaks observed after the England matches.
This trend suggests a new annual record for GAMSTOP, with the number of registrations reaching almost 100,000 people in 2024, compared to 92,000 the previous year. In Belgium, the effect of the Euros remained relatively small.
Online Gambling Boom
Alongside this rise in self-exclusions, the online gambling market is booming in the UK. According to the UK Gambling Commission, the second quarter of 2024 saw a record volume of bets and spins, reaching £24.5 billion.
This context of intensive gambling highlights the importance of schemes like GAMSTOP to allow players to take a break and regain control of their situation.