No. of Casinos Not On GAMSTOP | 170 |
Deposit Methods | UK Credit Cards & Debit Cards, Bitcoin, Paysafecard, ecoPayz |
Best Deposit Bonus | £7,000 |
Best Match Bonus | 950% |
Casinos Not On Gamstop
You have come to the right place if you want information about a casino not on Gamstop. Our website specialises in providing details about UK online casinos not part of the Gamstop self-exclusion program. These casinos are licensed and registered elsewhere, which means they do not have to follow the Gamstop guidelines and can accept players who have self-excluded or had their account restricted from UK-regulated online casinos. We provide detailed reviews and recommendations for non-Gamstop casinos and helpful tips and guides to help you make informed decisions about your online gambling experience. Browse our website to find the best non-Gamstop casinos for your needs and preferences. However, if you have self-excluded and have a gambling problem, we do not recommend you continue to play at any online casino and seek professional advice and help.
What is GAMSTOP?
Perhaps the most important of the reforms which have taken place over recent years has been the introduction and increasing role taken by the gambling self-exclusion scheme. This UKGC-backed official body is intended to enable gamblers who feel they have a problem controlling their gambling to voluntarily self-exclude themselves from all UK-licenced online casinos and gaming sites.
These UK-licenced operators must refuse to accept payments or deposits from these players – effectively banning them from gambling online. However, the scheme is not without its flaws – and its critics. A whole new infrastructure has been built up, offering a variety of ways for UK-based players to avoid the rules that UK online casinos are obligated to follow.
But before exploring these issues, let’s look at the early history of GAMSTOP, how it works and what it is intended to do.
Best Online Casinos Not On GAMSTOP
Here, we have a list of casinos accepting players in the UK that are not part of the Gamstop self-exclusion scheme. If your exclusion has not been removed after you have requested access or you find you cannot register at UK Licensed casinos anymore, these non Gamstop sites will allow you to register. Please bear in mind they do not hold a UK license but a license in another jurisdiction. This means you will not have the same level of player protection. We have picked out some of the most trusted non gamstop casinos.
Important Note: Sometimes, a card payment will not work the first time. If your payment is declined, we recommend waiting for your bank to text or contact you (this is usually an automated process from your bank). You can then approve the transaction and try your card details again. Bitcoin or crypto payments will go through without any issues.
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Table Of Contents
- Casinos Not On Gamstop
- What is GAMSTOP?
- Best Online Casinos Not On GAMSTOP
- GAMSTOP: A Brief History
- The Rebrand
- GAMSTOP Today
- Regulation of the Gambling Industry in the United Kingdom
- The History Of UK Gambling Regulation
- The Purpose Of Regulating Online Casinos
- The post-regulation Boom
- Recent Changes in Gambling Regulations in the United Kingdom
- Are there any casinos not on GAMSTOP?
- Can I cancel my GAMSTOP exclusion?
- What are the choices for the minimum exclusion period?
- How do you gamble after Gamstop?
- What licencing jurisdictions cover gambling sites not on GAMSTOP?
- What payment methods are available with non Gamstop casinos?
- How do you identify if an online casino is not covered by GAMSTOP?
- How can you be sure that casino sites are licenced for the UK market and are reputable?
- What are the loopholes with GAMSTOP?
- How do you find GAMSTOP Casinos?
- Can you get around gamstop?
- Can you self exclude from all gambling sites?
- Can I reverse self exclusion?
- Can you ban yourself from casino sites?
- Can you block gambling websites?
- What does self exclusion mean?
- Are there any good honest casinos not on GAMSTOP?
- Should I self-exclude using the Gamstop scheme?
- How do I submit a seIf-exclusion removal request?
- Why can I not play on any casinos after removing my self-exclusion with GAMSTOP?
- My casino account has been restricted, what should I do?
- Summary
GAMSTOP: A Brief History
Since the UK government’s regulations tightened on March 31st, 2020, it has become compulsory for all online casinos licensed in the United Kingdom market to register with GAMSTOP and actively promote its services. As a result of this measure, it should now be a simple one-stop process to self-exclude from all UK-regulated online casinos.
However, despite these regulations, many casinos avoid these restrictions by being licensed and registered elsewhere. Consequently, these casinos do not have to follow the GAMSTOP guidelines and are free to accept otherwise self-excluded players.
The morality of this phenomenon can be debated, but the gambling industry is part of the worldwide market governments attempt to regulate, with mixed results. Although it is relatively easy for casino operators to avoid the UK government’s regulations, they certainly have a financial interest in doing so. Specifically, people who have attempted to self-exclude are likely to be habitual gamblers and big spenders – the type of players that profit-hungry casino operators would like to encourage.
The roots of what is now GAMSTOP begin with an online gambling industry representative organisation called the Remote Gambling Association (RGA). This body was formed by merging two previously existing organisations, the Interactive Gaming, Gambling and Betting Association (IGGBA) and the Association of Remote Gambling Operators (ARGO).
The RGA’s function was to represent large international online casinos and other gambling site operating companies. It is, in effect, a lobbying body formed to influence politicians, regulators and other influential decision-makers who decide how the industry will operate. It is a compelling voice advocating for the industry’s interests, especially within the United Kingdom and throughout the European Economic Area (EEA).
To attempt to soothe the anxieties of those looking to tighten up the rules on gambling, the major gambling companies set up a voluntary self-regulation scheme to support compulsive and problem gamblers. Originally called GamStop, the body was launched in April 2018 after several delays. It set up a centralised system to allow players to self-exclude from casinos. The idea was that this would prevent them from making payments and playing on their chosen sites.
However, in the early days, this effectively meant that players could quickly get around their self-exclusion simply by registering with an alternative site. Other flaws also quickly became apparent, resulting in the new scheme failing to satisfy the industry’s critics. Many felt that the new self-regulatory system was in effect, like putting a fox in charge of the chicken shed – it was clearly in the gaming operators’ interest to continue to accept its highest spending and most loyal players’ money. As a result, the scheme has seen its powers increase over the succeeding years and become more independent of the gaming industry.
The Rebrand
Its powers are now quite considerable. Re-branded GAMSTOP, from April 2020, it was a requirement for all online gambling operators licenced by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) to register with the scheme. Today, a player contacting GAMSTOP and requesting self-exclusion should expect to be barred from all UK licenced and registered online gambling sites.
Furthermore, the scheme must be prominently promoted on all online casinos and other gambling sites, with additional ways of controlling player spending. These are listed under a link called “Responsible Gaming”. A separate link to GAMSTOP must also be included.
In addition to these measures, GAMSTOP itself is now totally independent from the gambling industry, which plays no further role in its regulation. This change came in September 2019, when GAMSTOP withdrew its membership from the RGA, the gambling industry body which had initially founded it.
Today, GAMSTOP is a non-profit making body run by an independent board of directors with diverse, relevant skills. Chaired by Jenny Watson, her operational team has a wide range of backgrounds, including senior roles within the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Victim Support, the NHS and other relevant experience.
GAMSTOP Today
With its new powers and enhanced status independent of the gambling industry, the scheme has already helped over 100,000 people to self-exclude from online casinos and other gaming sites. The UK government has fully supported the scheme. Indeed, Culture Minister Helen Whately welcomed that most major high street banks have introduced measures allowing customers to switch off spending on gambling through mobile apps. This is yet another way to prevent vulnerable players and punters from making payments to gambling sites.
However, despite this undoubted progress, problems with the scheme continue. Players still regularly report being sent promotional e-mails and offered inducements to return to previously used casinos or to join different ones. Others report finding it easy to get around their self-exclusion by simply registering with a new e-mail address or changing the spelling of their name.
Furthermore, more sites are choosing to operate outside the UK regulatory system, thereby avoiding the need to register with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) or be part of the GAMSTOP scheme.
Regulation of the Gambling Industry in the United Kingdom
Recent years have seen a marked increase in the pressure to clamp down on the gambling industry in the United Kingdom. The early years of the 21st Century resulted in a rapid liberalisation of regulations regarding gambling, with an explosion in online gambling, especially sports betting. As so often, though, there is a reaction for every action. Today, things are swinging in the opposite direction – the pressure to increase the regulation of the industry is growing.
The History Of UK Gambling Regulation
So how did we get here? The most influential legislation governing gambling laws in the United Kingdom is the Gambling Act of 2005. At the turn of the 21st Century, gambling was undergoing rapid change, especially with the rapid rise of the internet. It was also the case that gambling regulation was a bit of a mess, with many little bits of law, both ancient and modern, applied in different circumstances.
The Labour Government at the time, therefore, wanted to bring all the rules and regulations for betting and gambling into one consolidating piece of legislation. This was intended to cover all aspects of gambling in the UK. The new Act covered everything from bingo halls and casinos to sports betting, from lotteries to gaming, fruit and slot machines. Online gambling was also to be included explicitly for the first time. The new legislation was to be all-encompassing, with legality, licencing, and regulation all included. A further amendment was added in 2014 to cover advertising.
The 2005 Gambling Act certainly was comprehensive. Including 18 Parts, 362 Clauses and 18 supplementary Schedules, it was quite a doorstopper. This was a tome for insomniacs, industry insiders and lawyers only.
The Purpose Of Regulating Online Casinos
The main aims of the Act were to prevent gambling from being a source of crime or disorder and to prevent it from supporting crime in any way; to ensure that gambling was conducted fairly, and openly and transparently; and to protect children and vulnerable adults from being exploited by gambling in any way. The main practical effect of the new Act was to set up a new regulatory body – the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), to oversee all aspects of the nation’s gambling industry.
A big, shiny new piece of legislation like this would likely result in more stringent laws and tighter regulations. The effect was quite the opposite. In the years following the introduction of the new regulations, online gambling has boomed. Online slots and bingo began to take off at the turn of the century, and online casinos saw a tremendous surge as the 21st Century progressed, especially with the advent of mobile gambling during the 2010s.
Sports betting, too, has seen a phenomenal rise. This is especially the case with in-play gambling – again made easier with the advent of smartphones and easy-to-use apps. The ever-present cockney growl of Ray Winstone, commanding punters to ‘Bet Now!’ seemed to punctuate every commercial break on Sky and BT Sports channels and terrestrial TV whenever a major sporting event was broadcast.
The post-regulation Boom
Implementing the new Act saw a phenomenal boom in betting and gambling, especially for online casinos. Profits within the entire industry surged. This had not been anticipated, and regulators began to be bombarded with reports of gambling problems becoming entrenched in society. So much so that the tide began to turn, and by the 2010s, pressure began to grow to rein in the industry’s growth.
This increasing clamour for reform of the Act was made clear by the publication of the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s report on the Act in 2013, called ‘The Gambling Act 2005: A bet worth taking?’
The move for reform was certainly strong within the Labour Party, now out of government and in opposition. Tom Watson, MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 2016 to 2019, agreed with many of the arguments. He was keen to make amends for the effects of his Party’s legislation.
The latter end of the decade saw this pressure increase, even though the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) became involved. In 2019, the Chief Executive of NHS England described how the gambling industry spends £1.5 billion a year on advertising and marketing but contributes less than £10 million to deal with the public health consequences.
All this constant political pressure has begun to produce results. Therefore, as we head into the twenty-twenties, changes in how the regulations are enforced have begun to occur.
Recent Changes in Gambling Regulations in the United Kingdom
Numerous examples of this increasing tightening of the environment surrounding gambling exist in recent years. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has taken an increasingly active role, as it is no longer willing to allow the large gambling companies to simply self-regulate their activities:
- In April 2019, the UKGC, working with the Advertising Standards Association (ASA), introduced new guidance on advertising to young people. These new guidelines effectively banned the advertising of products which could be judged to be aimed at encouraging children to gamble. They also acted to prohibit any gambling advertising at all when more than 25% of the audience was likely to be under the age of 18.
- On the same day these new advertising regulations were introduced, the maximum amount players could stake on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) was reduced from £100 to just £2 in a widely anticipated crackdown on these machines. These are situated in many high street bookmakers’ shops and other social spaces such as casinos, amusement arcades and pubs.
- More recent tightening on advertising rules has seen the gambling industry agree not to show advertising during all televised sporting events (although horse racing is excluded from the new rules). Both TV and radio advertising were also voluntarily restricted during the Covid lockdown.
- Also, credit cards were banned as a method of payment for online betting or gaming. Credit cards like Visa and MasterCard are no longer accepted at UK-licenced online casinos or bingo sites. Free games and promotions have also been severely restricted.
- In August 2020, the influential think tank Social Market Foundation published its Gambling Review and Reform report, which calls for tighter regulations on the industry. These are likely to include such measures as a new Gambling Ombudsman, increases in taxes on gambling, and further restrictions on advertising and marketing, such as football shirt sponsorship.
Are there any casinos not on GAMSTOP?
Yes, we have over 50 online casino sites listed here that are not on GAMSTOP.
Can I cancel my GAMSTOP exclusion?
No, you won't be able to cancel your exclusion from GAMSTOP until you reach the end of your minimum exclusion period.
What are the choices for the minimum exclusion period?
6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
How do you gamble after Gamstop?
You can still gamble, but it would have to be on non Gamstop casinos. The online casino sites listed here are the best casinos not blocked by GAMSTOP. However, if you have self-excluded, it would be worth seeking help from one of the many support organisations.
What licencing jurisdictions cover gambling sites not on GAMSTOP?
Typically, many of these online casino sites are, in fact, licenced and registered via the Netherlands Antilles, a group of Caribbean islands administered by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The most well-known of these is Curacao. This territory is not recognised by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and is not regulated by it. You are also likely to need to look hard to find this information. Sometimes, there is a Curacao flag or emblem at the foot of the page. You will likely find the licencing arrangements buried deep within the seemingly endless Terms & Conditions. In other instances, the information seems to be absent.
Other possible licencing territories include Malta and Gibraltar, but this time without a corresponding licence with the UKGC.
Whilst it is safer to play with an online casino site which is officially licenced, whatever the jurisdiction, it is safest to play with a UK-registered casino site. The UKGC may be regarded as ‘toothless’ by its critics, but casinos operating under its licence do fear its powers. It can and does fine online casino operators for breaches of its licencing conditions.
In just one example, the relatively small company which operated Casino 36 was faced with costs of around £300,000 for licence omissions in 2019, while in 2020 online operators Genesis Global had their licence to operate a dozen casinos in the UK market suspended by the UKGC. Larger operators have faced fines of millions of pounds for licencing breaches.
All UK licenced casinos therefore feel obliged to follow the rules, which offer United Kingdom based players considerable protection from unfair games and other malpractices. Other licencing authorities may also enforce their rules, but it is difficult to be sure what they are. In any case, it is also difficult to know how to contact and obtain support from the Curacao Gaming Control Board, or the Malta Gaming Authority for example.
Another additional warning factor is that few of these overseas registered online casinos offer indications of ownership, or real world contact addresses which can be used in case of disputes. ‘About Us’ sections are rare, and even when they exist, they can often offer little useful information beyond an e-mail address.
What payment methods are available with non Gamstop casinos?
In general, many deposit methods provided on overseas licenced online casinos will be familiar to United Kingdom-based players. Different from UK casinos, credit cards are still offered, but these will often not be available to UK-based players. This is because legitimate online casinos, wherever registered, are likely to be required to abide by their own government’s Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations. These are designed to restrict criminal activities and money laundering operations.
These regulations mean that players can be required to disclose official identification documents like passports and bank details before opening an account, and certainly before being allowed to withdraw. This is a licencing requirement for all legitimate casino operators, wherever they are located. Some are looking for loopholes, but mostly unsuccessfully.
Many players on these casinos use payment methods which offer a degree of anonymity. Paysafecard does this – anyone can buy them for cash, and their ownership cannot be traced back to the individual who bought them.
Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin also work well in this respect. However, it is likely that the accepting casino will still have to comply with the KYC regulations of their licencing authority, so problems may arise when attempting to cash out. Winnings cannot be transferred by Paysafecard and even bitcoin payments may require some identity checks in order to comply with the necessary licencing conditions.
How do you identify if an online casino is not covered by GAMSTOP?
At first glance, this can be difficult to spot. Non-GAMSTOP casinos look very much like UK-licenced Gamstop casinos: they are designed and laid out the same way and offer very similar games. Many of the well-known gaming software providers are often on board, so many of your familiar favourite casino games will still be available for players.
Look a little closer, however, and things become clearer. You will be likely to find a greater proportion of games unfamiliar to UK players. In particular, scroll to the foot of the home page and things are likely to look very different indeed. No GAMSTOP logo will be displayed, or indeed any other kind of gambling support. There is unlikely to be any indication of licencing arrangements or registration details either (see below for details of licencing jurisdictions).
How can you be sure that casino sites are licenced for the UK market and are reputable?
Scroll to the bottom of the home page of the casino you are interested in and look for the following indicators:
All casinos compatible with the UK market will display a logo for the ‘Gambling Commission’, along with wording indicating that the casino is “operated under a gaming license issued by the Gambling Commission of Great Britain”, or similar. The correct name for the licencing body is the UK Gambling Commission.
Note that most casinos compatible with the UK market are actually licenced and registered overseas. This is fine, so long as the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is also listed as the regulator, and its logo appears on the site. Territories frequently seen as the primary licencing authority include the UK Channel Islands of Alderney and Guernsey, the Isle of Man and the Mediterranean territories of Gibraltar and Malta. All these locations are recognised by the UKGC as valid for the UK market.
All casinos which are licenced and registered for the United Kingdom market must feature the GAMSTOP logo.
All UK regulated casinos must also display a link to a section for ‘Responsible Gaming’. This will usually be found amongst other links, such as ‘Terms & Conditions’, ‘Help’, ‘Support’, ‘About Us’ and other such headings.
Further relevant links may also appear, such as ‘BeGambleAware.org’, ‘gambleaware.co.uk’, ‘GamCare’ and others. Note that these should be active links which direct you to the relevant sites, not just inactive logos.
All of these links and logos are evidence that the casino you are visiting is reputable and properly registered for the United Kingdom market. However, they do not necessarily indicate that it is also efficient, fair and pays out its players’ winnings in a timely manner.
What are the loopholes with GAMSTOP?
The crucial factor here is whether a casino is actually “licenced for the UK market”. Many casinos which UK-based players can use are not registered for the UK market at all. Indeed, this is a relatively simple way for any casino operator to evade the new regulations.
The clue is like the ‘World Wide Web’ itself. Websites can be based anywhere in the world, and therefore, casinos can operate, and slot games can be played on whether they are licenced and registered for the UK market. Indeed, many, if not most, of the casinos which are fully licenced and regulated by the UKGC are licenced and based overseas (usually for tax purposes).
How do you find GAMSTOP Casinos?
It should be relatively simple to find Gamstop casinos because it is now a government requirement to be a member of the Gamstop scheme before being awarded a licence for the UK market. The measure was introduced by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This came shortly before the UKGC’s more widely reported move, banning payments by credit cards for all UK-regulated online gambling, including casinos and sports betting sites.
This requirement means that all casino sites which are regulated by the UKGC must now offer the GAMSTOP service. As the Commission stated clearly when announcing the new measures, these rules are designed to “allow consumers to self-exclude from online operators with one request rather than from each operator individually.”
It is now compulsory for all online casinos and other gambling titles licenced for the UK market to display the GAMSTOP link on their sites. It is also compulsory for every online casino to provide additional support measures. These are displayed under a further heading called ‘Responsible Gaming’. These extra options enable UK players to keep their spending under control in other ways. These can include setting daily, weekly or monthly budget limits, temporary exclusions (often referred to as ‘taking a break’) and further methods.
All online casinos are required to display these links prominently on the front page of their sites. The actual position will vary from title to title, but they are usually to be found near the foot of the main page.
Can you get around gamstop?
Yes, you can play at any of the casinos not on gamstop we list here or by playing at a casino licensed in another country. However, we recommend looking for support from family and friends or one of the many support organisations.
Can you self exclude from all gambling sites?
GAMSTOP will allow you to self exclude from all gambling sites in the UK, however not all sites are subscribed to this but there are other ways to block gambling sites in the UK.
Can I reverse self exclusion?
No, this is not possible.
Can you ban yourself from casino sites?
Yes, you can use GAMSTOP to ban yourself from most UK Casinos providing they are subscribed to GAMSTOP. However, most UK casinos will allow you to "self-exclude" from just their casino without blocking yourself from them all.
Can you block gambling websites?
There is some software called NetNanny which can work with your router to block everyone in the house from gambling. There are also bank accounts such as Monzo that allow you to block gambling transactions.
What does self exclusion mean?
This is the same as blocking yourself from the gambling site. It means to exclude yourself from playing and depositing.
Are there any good honest casinos not on GAMSTOP?
If you are looking for trustworthy and honest casinos, they can be challenging with non gamstop casinos. If a site is not subscribed to GAMSTOP, then it's likely that the casino doesn't have a UK Gambling licence. If a casino is not part of the gamstop self-exclusion scheme, you must be careful. However that being said, the most trustworthy are the ones we have on our homepage. We see a lot of depositing and withdrawal activity on these sites, and we change the order of casinos accordingly.
Should I self-exclude using the Gamstop scheme?
If you have a real problem with gambling and it is affecting your health and finances, then yes, we recommend it. However, if you wish to take a bit of a break from gambling, you have to be aware of several issues that can occur. The Gamstop scheme will only block you from UK-licensed casinos. Many casinos still accept UK players who don't have a license or are subscribed to the scheme. With that in mind, if you are pretty dedicated to gambling again, there isn't a way of stopping you. Another issue is that you can self-exclude for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. However, after that period is up, you may still be unable to gamble on your favourite UK-licenced casino. There can often be a communication problem between Gamstop and the casino support staff, and they may be unaware that your self-exclusion has expired.
Further, some casino operators have been hit with huge fines in the millions of pounds for allowing problem gamblers to continue playing "by accident". Responsible operators get very nervous about letting any players who have previously self-excluded through the scheme come back and play again. Players have reported feeling interrogated and made to feel like criminals for attempting to log in and deposit again.
How do I submit a seIf-exclusion removal request?
You can only remove your self-exclusion once your set period has expired. You will have to contact the GAMSTOP call centre by telephone. Once you have spoken to them, there will be a 24-hour cooling-off period. You will then need to speak to them again to confirm you still want the self-exclusion removed. Please bear in mind that you may still not be able to play at your favourite casino; it is their discretion if they allow you to play again, and they may feel it is too much of a risk to them financially. Many casino operators have received fines for allowing problem gamblers to play and get out of control with their spending.
Why can I not play on any casinos after removing my self-exclusion with GAMSTOP?
The main reason is that many fines have been handed out to casino operators by the UK Gambling Commission. One of the most significant fines was £11.6m for not following the UK Gambling rules. This makes casino operators very nervous about letting anyone with a history of problem gambling play in their casinos. Many customers have expressed their frustrations that the casino operators suggest playing responsibly using all these tools. The truth is that most of the operators have been forced by the UK Gambling Commission to advertise these problem gambling facilities. They don't tell you that the consequences are that you may never be able to play on your favourite online casino ever again without what might feel like an interrogation and extensive proof that you do not have a gambling problem.
My casino account has been restricted, what should I do?
If you are playing on a casino part of the Gamstop self-exclusion scheme and your account has been blocked, there could be many reasons for this. We recommend having a look at our account restricted page and searching for the casino where you are having difficulties and reading our guides.
Summary
Ultimately, the decision to play at UK casinos not on Gamstop, will be made according to a player’s attitude to risk. All gambling is risky because you can (and more than likely will) lose money. That is why online casino operators are rich, and almost all gamblers are not.
There may be little choice for players who have self-excluded via GAMSTOP but wish to rejoin a casino. Their attitude to risk may also already be at the top end of the scale. Ultimately, players should consider carefully if they can afford to lose everything they are wagering, wherever they are playing. This is even more significant when using a non gamstop casino.