GamCare and GAMSTOP: What They Do



For anyone in the United Kingdom who plays at online casinos, two names appear again and again: GamCare and GAMSTOP. They sound similar, they are often mentioned together, and yet they perform very different jobs. Understanding the distinction matters, because one offers treatment and support, while the other acts as a practical barrier. This guide explains both plainly, with the figures that define how each organisation operates. For more details, visit 400% deposit bonus.

The Role of GamCare in Player Protection

GamCare is a registered charity and the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Great Britain. Its National Gambling Helpline, available on 0808 8020 133, operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. That is 8,760 hours of continuous cover annually, which matters when problems rarely arrive at convenient times.

The charity delivers free counselling through a network of trained advisers, both over the phone and face to face. It also runs the NetLine service, a live chat facility for online players who prefer not to speak. Beyond direct support, GamCare trains casino staff and works with operators on safer gambling standards, helping to shape how deposit limits and reality checks are presented at the point of play.

GamCare is part of the National Gambling Support Network, which replaced the older regional structure and now covers every postcode in the United Kingdom. Referrals to local treatment typically happen within 48 hours. The charity also provides a family and friends service, recognising that one person’s gambling affects roughly six to ten others around them.

Importantly, GamCare does not block access to anything. It cannot stop you opening an account. That is where the second organisation comes in.

How GAMSTOP Blocks Access

GAMSTOP is the United Kingdom’s national online self-exclusion scheme, launched in 2018. It is free to use and lets you exclude yourself from every Gambling Commission-licensed online operator for a fixed period of six months, one year or five years. One registration covers more than 3,000 licensed sites, so a single form closes the door everywhere at once.

Once registered, the scheme shares a hashed identifier with participating operators, who must check it before allowing play. Attempts to open a new account during the exclusion period are refused. The service is backed by the Gambling Commission, and all licensed remote operators are required to participate.

Here is the practical difference in a table:

Using Both Together

The two services complement each other. GAMSTOP handles the immediate mechanics of stopping access, while GamCare addresses the reasons behind the behaviour. Many players register with GAMSTOP first and then contact the helpline for ongoing support during the exclusion period.

GAMSTOP registrations last at least six months, and the scheme reports that most users choose the twelve-month option. You cannot cancel early, which is deliberate: it removes the temptation to reverse the decision on a difficult evening.

For land-based venues, self-exclusion works through a separate local scheme, so GAMSTOP alone will not cover betting shops or casinos on the high street. GamCare advisers can explain how to arrange that too.

If gambling is causing concern, the sensible order is simple: register with GAMSTOP to stop online play, then call GamCare on 0808 8020 133 to talk through what comes next. Both are free, confidential, and available across the United Kingdom.