Does GAMSTOP block casino apps?
Does GAMSTOP block casino apps? Yes: it blocks you from every online gambling company licensed in Great Britain, so you can't gamble through their apps or websites while you're excluded. It works on your accounts rather than your phone, though, so the apps stay installed and unlicensed sites aren't covered.
By the BestApps editorial team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- GAMSTOP blocks your accounts with all GB-licensed online operators, which covers their casino and betting apps.
- It doesn't delete apps or stop them being downloaded; it stops licensed operators letting you gamble.
- Every licensed online operator has had to take part since 31 March 2020.
- Unlicensed sites, betting shops and draw-based lotteries such as Lotto aren't covered.
- Add Gamban, phone settings and a bank block to close the gaps.
- Covers
- All GB-licensed online gambling companies
- Apps included?
- Yes, through your accounts
- Mandatory since
- 31 March 2020
- Periods
- 6 months, 1 year or 5 years
- Cost
- Free
- Not covered
- Unlicensed sites, land-based venues, draw lotteries
How GAMSTOP blocks casino apps
GAMSTOP doesn't reach into your phone. It works one level up: when you register, every online gambling business licensed in Great Britain must stop you gambling with them for the period you chose. A casino app is just a way into an operator account, so once the operator refuses service, the app can't be used to gamble.
That's why it blocks casino apps, sportsbook apps with a casino tab, and the matching websites all at once. It doesn't matter whether you use an iPhone, an Android phone or a laptop. Our GAMSTOP guide covers the scheme in full, and the questions hub has related answers.
What GAMSTOP blocks and what it doesn't
| Type of gambling | Blocked by GAMSTOP? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Casino apps from GB-licensed operators | Yes | All licensed online operators must take part |
| Sportsbook apps with a casino section | Yes | The scheme covers all online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain |
| The same operators' websites | Yes | The block is on your account, not one app |
| Instant win lottery games | Yes | Instant win games are covered |
| Draw-based lotteries such as Lotto | No | Not covered by GAMSTOP |
| Betting shops and land-based casinos | No | Separate self-exclusion schemes apply |
| Unlicensed offshore sites | No | Outside the UK system and its protections |
| The app icon on your phone | No | Delete it yourself, or use a blocker |
The gaps are real but easy to fill. A device blocker reaches unlicensed sites, a bank block stops card payments, and deleting the apps removes the reminders. See how to block gambling apps on your phone.
What a casino app operator must do when you join GAMSTOP
The rules don't leave it to goodwill. LCCP 3.5.5 (opens in a new tab) says licensees must participate in the national multi-operator self-exclusion scheme, and LCCP 3.5.3 (opens in a new tab) sets out what happens to a self-excluded customer.
- They must refuse you service for the length of the exclusion.
- They must close your account and return any money in it.
- They must remove you from marketing within two days.
- They must point you towards support services.
If a licensed app does let you gamble during an exclusion, you can complain to the operator and, if needed, escalate. Our guide to how to complain about a casino app and the answer on complaining to the Gambling Commission explain the route.
GAMSTOP and casino apps: key dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 14 January 2020 | Gambling Commission announces mandatory participation for online operators |
| 31 March 2020 | All online operators must take part in GAMSTOP |
| November 2022 | LEBOM Limited suspended for failing to participate |
The Commission's announcement (opens in a new tab) set the deadline, and the LEBOM suspension showed the requirement is enforced. To check a licence yourself, how casino apps are licensed in the UK explains how to use the public register.
How to use GAMSTOP to block casino apps
Registration takes place on GAMSTOP's website (opens in a new tab), not inside a casino app, and it's free. You choose 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, or 5 years with auto-renewal.
- Visit GAMSTOP's official website from any browser.
- Register with accurate personal details.
- Choose your exclusion period.
- Delete casino and betting apps from your phone and tablet.
- Add a blocker such as Gamban and a bank gambling block for the gaps GAMSTOP leaves.
Our answer on how to self-exclude from all casino apps goes through registration and the first few days in more detail.
Why casino apps still appear on your phone after GAMSTOP
GAMSTOP has no link to the App Store or Google Play, so apps you already have stay installed, and you could still download new ones. You just can't gamble with a GB-licensed operator through them. Seeing the icons can still bring on an urge, which is why removing them matters.
To stop reinstalls, use your phone's controls: see blocking gambling apps on iPhone and blocking gambling apps on Android. The walk-through on deleting a casino app confirms that your balance isn't lost when the app goes.
How long GAMSTOP blocks casino apps for
The Gambling Commission's self-exclusion page (opens in a new tab) explains how self-exclusion works, and GAMSTOP sets the rules for its own periods.
| Choice | Cancel early? | At the end |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | No | Stays in place until you ask for removal |
| 1 year | No | Stays in place until you ask for removal |
| 5 years | No | Stays in place until you ask for removal |
| 5 years, auto-renewing | No | Renews automatically |
Apps don't start working for gambling again on their own at the end of the period. You'd have to contact GAMSTOP and ask, which builds in a pause for thought.
GAMSTOP compared with self-exclusion inside one app
Most casino apps offer their own self-exclusion too, alongside deposit limits and breaks. That only covers one operator, while GAMSTOP covers all licensed operators at once. Using both is fine: the in-app option acts immediately on the account in front of you. Our guides to safer gambling tools in casino apps and to Coral's app tools and Ladbrokes' app tools show what operators publish.
Getting support while GAMSTOP is in place
Self-exclusion is a strong step, and support makes it easier to stick with. The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free on 0808 8020 133 and open 24/7, with live chat and WhatsApp. In England you can refer yourself to an NHS gambling clinic; in Wales, call the NHS Wales Helpline on 0808 2819 265. See help and support and signs of problem gambling.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Does GAMSTOP block all casino apps?
It blocks every casino app run by an online gambling company licensed in Great Britain, because all licensed operators must take part. You can't gamble through their apps or websites while you're excluded. It doesn't cover unlicensed offshore apps or sites, which offer none of the UK's protections. The explainer on spotting an unlicensed casino app explains the warning signs.
Can I still download casino apps while on GAMSTOP?
Technically yes, because GAMSTOP has no connection to the App Store or Google Play. But a licensed operator must refuse you service, so the app can't be used to gamble with them. To stop downloads altogether, use your phone's install restrictions or a blocker. See Screen Time on iPhone and Android blocking tools.
Does GAMSTOP block betting apps as well as casino apps?
Yes. GAMSTOP covers all online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain, whether they offer casino games, sports betting or both. Many casino apps sit inside sportsbook apps, and the block applies to the account either way. See why some sportsbook apps include a casino for how those apps are structured.
What happens to my casino app balance when I join GAMSTOP?
It should come back to you. The Commission's rules say operators must close a self-excluded customer's account and return any funds in it. If money isn't returned, contact the operator, then follow the complaints route in our guide to how to complain about a casino app.
Does GAMSTOP work in Northern Ireland?
The Gambling Act 2005 and the Gambling Commission's rules apply to Great Britain, and Northern Ireland has its own gambling law. GAMSTOP is built around operators licensed in Great Britain, so check GAMSTOP's own site for how it applies to you. Device blockers and bank blocks work wherever you are. See Northern Ireland gambling law.
Can I end GAMSTOP early to use a casino app again?
No. Once you register, the exclusion runs for the full period you chose, whether that's 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. When it ends, the block stays until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it. That design protects you at the moments an urge is strongest. Our self-exclusion glossary entry explains the idea in brief.
Will casino apps stop sending me notifications after GAMSTOP?
Operators must take you off their marketing within two days of your exclusion. Push notifications come from the app itself, so deleting the app or switching off its notifications stops them at once. If marketing continues after two days, tell the operator. See how to turn off casino app notifications.
Is GAMSTOP enough on its own?
For licensed operators it's very effective, but it leaves gaps: unlicensed sites, land-based gambling, draw lotteries and the apps still on your phone. Most people are better protected by adding a blocker such as Gamban and a bank gambling block. See what Gamban is and can my bank block casino app payments?.
Related pages
Sources
- Control your gambling | Gamstop Online (opens in a new tab)
- About | Gamstop Online (opens in a new tab)
- 3.5.5 Remote multi-operator SR code (opens in a new tab)
- 3.5.3 Self-exclusion – remote SR code (opens in a new tab)
- Online operators required to participate in GAMSTOP from March 2020 (opens in a new tab)
- Self-exclusion (opens in a new tab)
- Gambling business suspended for failure to participate in GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab)