The UK government, through the UKGC, is again looking to implement new anti-gambling-addiction measures. Their goal is to reduce the risk of more Brits developing a compulsion towards betting on sports and games of chance. That is something which polls suggest is increasing year on year.
Since its inception, Great Britain’s online gambling sphere has attained the reputation of being Europe’s most stringently regulated one.
However, in 2020, things got elevated to a new level when the UKGC introduced the mandatory self-exclusion scheme called GamStop, and then quickly after banned credit cards as an acceptable payment method at all UK-based online casinos. In February 2021, it incorporated new restrictions that make online slot gameplay less intense, and now, there are discussions about implementing affordability checks at all UK gambling sites. That news is causing much uproar among British gamblers who are more vehemently looking at non GamStop casinos as viable gaming homes, the perfect alternative to the now super limiting interactive gaming platforms operating from British soil.
What follows is an examination of foreign betting sites and the rise to prominence of casinos not using GamStop.
How GamStop Teamed Up With the UKGC
Except for spread wagering, the UKGC, founded in 2007, oversees all betting activity in the UK. Its inception got outlined in the Gambling Act of 2005, and it replaced the Gaming Board for Great Britain as the nation’s sole gambling regulator. In 2013, it took over the regulation of the UK National Lottery.
GamStop is a nationwide self-exclusion database run by the not-for-profit National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited, based in Cardale Park, Harrogate. It is a network that links all UKGC-licensed sites together. When a gambler activates a GamStop ban, that individual is no longer allowed to play at any UKGC-approved platform until his chosen self-exclusion timeframe expires. As mentioned in the intro, GamStop was initial in a slew of measures focused on stopping expanding problem gambling rates in Britain. The UKGC followed up GamStop’s introduction a year later by removing the auto-play function, implementing obligatory wait times between slot spins, and lowering max wager limits. These all served to drive British players to casinos not using GameStop.
Brief Intro to Casinos Not on GamStop
A casino not on GamStop is an online gambling site located in a foreign country. Usually, these sites are run from small nations that have chosen to legalize online gambling as a way to rake in the tax revenues this activity can provide. According to experts at non-gamstop-casinos.com, the most common examples include Malta, Curacao, Panama, Costa Rica, Antigua and Barbuda, and several other regions with limited economic potential. Their gaming regulators license online casinos that offer their services to gamblers from all corners of the globe. So, a non GamStop casino is a platform that has gotten approved to operate and gets monitored by bodies like the Malta Gaming Authority, Gaming Curacao, or Panama’s Gaming Control Board.
These casinos not on GamStop are attractive to players because they offer games unavailable in the UK market, allow niche payment methods, have no gameplay restrictions, and supply more bonuses. That said, only people who can keep a cool head when betting should consider them as suitable operators. They have site-specific self-exclusion, but that is often not enough for compulsive gamblers to resist the urge to bet elsewhere.
Are Casinos Not Using GamStop Illegal for Brits?
Going by the letter of the law, Brits should stick to enjoying UKGC casinos only. Nonetheless, British authorities do not bother prosecuting anyone who uses offshore platforms. They see that as a matter of personal choice and let sleeping dogs lie. That is a practice that virtually all countries adhere to, as no one wishes to needlessly spend resources on going after individuals that choose to play games of chance over the internet at non-home-based sites.
In the case of any liability, the legal burden falls on the operators knowingly allowing players from restricted regions to utilize their service. The players that have taken advantage of this opportunity never get prosecuted. Non GamStop casinos freely advertise to Brits via Google and other methods, and no one bats an eye these days. Again, playing on this platform as a trick to bypass an activated GamStop ban is not a good idea for those suffering from legitimate gambling issues. Such parties should seek proper assistance immediately.
Reasons to Try & Avoid Non GamStop Casinos
There are pros and cons to everything, including casinos not on GamStop. It is up to every player to weigh these and decide if a casino not on GamStop is right for him or not.
Positives of Using Non GamStop Casinos
The main advantages of casinos not using GamStop are:
- Novel titles from multiple providers.
- Unique loyalty schemes.
- Niche sports betting markets.
- Almost no gameplay limitations.
- Access to alternative payment methods.
Negatives of Using Non GamStop Casinos
The drawbacks of enjoying non GamStop casinos include:
- GBP is not always an option.
- Some games popular in the UK may not be on offer.
- No official third-party dispute agencies coordinate with non GamStop casinos.
- These platforms may get abused by compulsive gamblers.
How UKGC Sites Compare to Non GamStop Casinos
Non GamStop gambling sites and UKGC ones are relatively similar in multiple departments. They employ virtually the same security protocols feature identical site interfaces, support options, and privacy protection. That said, foreign casinos may have laxer Know Your Customer policies, and they are likely to supply vaster gaming catalogs. Still, that comes with the price tag of British players not having their rights as protected compared to when they are playing at UKGC platforms, and they may not be able to control their gaming urges on these sites as proficiently as on UK ones. As a rule of thumb, non GamStop sites are for veteran players only who love to experience as much gaming diversity as possible and who can keep themselves in check.
To Sum Up
Fear of people developing a gambling addiction is currently reshaping how UK online casinos operate. They are now a far cry from what they were two years ago. Brits can also no longer use their credit cards at UKGC sites, which is likely a good thing for all. Yet, the seemingly inevitable affordability checks will only chase even more British gamblers to non GamStop casinos. While the latter hubs are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, they still offer casino-style gaming fun the likes most online game of chance mavens crave. Thus, anyone who has a history of gambling over the World Wide Web should try casinos not using GamStop today and get a taste of what online gaming was like in the UK pre-2020.