Apparently, GAMSTOP, the UK’s national online self-exclusion platform, has recorded a significant 19% increase in new registrations during the first half of 2025. Is this the result of a continuous effort to grow awareness? Maybe. What we know for sure is that younger users are way more aware of the fact that they need a set of tools to help them manage the habit of placing bets. GAMSTOP seems to be the front-line solution for people who want to be responsible regarding their “risky” passion for games.
Surge Among Younger Players
According to the official GAMSTOP’s 2025 H1 report, there is a 44% year-on-year increase in registrations among 16 to 24-year-olds. It means that over a quarter of all new users decided to self-exclude from gambling, proving how mature the audience has become thanks to all the awareness campaigns and struggles. After years and years of constantly investing in keeping players as aware and responsible as possible, these are the conclusions we can draw this year:
● The education level is far better around the gambling-related products and campaigns. Responsibility and awareness have a positive effect and can make the audiences understand the real risks.
● Short-term self-regulation tools have risen in popularity among digital-native generations.
● Social media and mobile platforms provide the proper environment for users to enjoy gambling, but also learn about how to stay away from bad decisions, behaviour, and habits.
What we can understand from their H1 report is how younger players grow to be more mature in relation to their passion for games, reaching the point where they are able to choose to take proactive breaks before gambling escalates into a problem.
Increase In Six-Month Self-Exclusions
Forcing someone to stop gambling for good does not sound like the proper thing to do, but when you give people the option to self-exclude for a limited, short time, they seem to embrace the idea.
GAMSTOP offers a self-exclusion option ranging from six months to five years, and in 2025, there has been a noticeable shift in user preferences. The six-month exclusion period is now the most popular, with 40% of registrants choosing this option, up from 36% the previous year.
What this percentage tells us? That more and more users are leveraging GAMSTOP as a short-term intervention tool, allowing them to resest their damaging behaviors or refocus on other life priorities. For younger registrants, especially, the shorter time frame makes the commitment feel more manageable while still offering the benefits of structured self-exclusion.
2025 Is The Year of Broken Records
If you wanted a reason to celebrate responsible gambling and see the world change for the better, this is the year to make plans for a better approach to responsibility. GAMSTOP has gotten some momentum, and it is already reflected in several record-breaking months:
● In April 2025, GAMSTOP managed to achieve 10,000 new registrations, with a total of 10,281 sign-ups. This was actually the first month to surpass 10,000.
● In May 2025, GAMSTOP saw an increase in the number of its newly registered users, with 10,344.
● The busiest day this year so far was April 7, 2025, when 437 individuals decided to register at GAMSTOP.
If this is not proving that we are doing better than ever, nothing will. However, it is important to keep on tracking these users and manage to convince them to never gamble again. Remember that we are talking about short-term self-exclusion which is frequently an excuse to take only a break.
Leadership Transition
As you may or may not know, a coincidence or not, but in line with the platform’s rapid growth, GAMSTOP announced a change in governance:Chris Pond will assume the role of Chair in September 2025, taking over from Jenny Watson CBE.
Chris Pond has a background in financial regulation, public service and consumer protections which makes him just the right person for this job. Before GAMSTOP, Chris was chairing theFinancial Conduct Authority Consumer Panel and also serving for theMoney and Mental Health Policy Institute.
How Expert Actors Promote Responsibility
Digital casino regulation and the permanent efforts of promoting responsibility amongs users is a highly-debated subject on a global scale. With UKGC and other powerful regulatory bodies forcing everyone to take action,BetBrain is an important piece to this complex puzzle.
We have picked them to give you a good example of how an affiliate should behave if we want to transform gambling in a true entertaining activity and remove all the risks related to its financial implications. You see, BetBrain is an affiliate that does nothing but inform the community, educate it and make sure no scammy offers or digital casinos end up in the spotlight.
What they do is provide the whole gamblers community with clarity by recommending them verified and certified platforms to play on. On top of that, they are also organising social tournaments events. Thanks to them and other extraordinary teams out there, users around the world have secure options to choose from.
Using GAMSTOP As a Modern Tool For Industry Innovation
Since launching in 2018, GAMSTOP has enrolled nearly 600,000 individuals. Its role has expanded significantly beyond crisis management. Today, it gives users the power to take control of their gambling habits. Why do we like to call it a tool?
● It offers flexible exclusion periods.
● It is easy to use across the UK
● Your data will remain confidential
● You have the option to extend your self-exclusion period
Conclusion
The growth of GAMSTOP really reflects not just a trend or a mathematical statistic. It reflects a cultural shift in how people perceive and manage gambling. A new era is about to begin, and younger users do not want to risk their financial resources or spend them for a couple of minutes of fun.
