GamStop Self-Exclusions Rise 16% in H1 2026, Led by Under-25s

GamStop, the UK's national online self-exclusion scheme, recorded a 16% year on year rise in new registrations in the first half of 2026, with sign-ups among people aged under 25 climbing 26%. May 2026 was the scheme's busiest month on record at 12,236 new registrations, and the service now has more than 614,000 users, according to figures released by The Gamstop Group in July 2026.

The data lands weeks into a home nations World Cup summer, a period the scheme itself flags as high risk, and it points to a striking generational shift: younger gamblers, long assumed to be the least engaged with player protection tools, are now among the fastest growing groups signing up to lock themselves out. Below we break down every number, the demographic split, the quotes from GamStop's leadership and what the surge means for operators and regulators.

How much did GamStop registrations rise in H1 2026?

New GamStop registrations rose 16% year on year in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. The single busiest month was May 2026, when 12,236 people signed up, the highest monthly total in the scheme's history. Cumulatively, more than 614,000 people have now registered with GamStop since it launched in 2018.

• 16% year on year rise in registrations across January to June 2026.
• 12,236 new sign-ups in May 2026, a record month for the scheme.
• 614,738 total registered users at the time of reporting.
• 26% year on year increase among people aged under 25.

Why are under-25s driving the increase?

Sign-ups among under-25s grew 26% year on year, and that age group now accounts for nearly one in three of all new self-exclusions. The Gamstop Group described younger users as among the most conscious about their online gambling behaviour, a reversal of the common assumption that younger cohorts are the hardest to reach with responsible gambling messaging. The pattern suggests player protection tools are becoming normalised for a generation that has only ever known a smartphone led betting market.

What did GamStop say about the figures?

GamStop's leadership framed the rise as evidence that self-exclusion is working as intended and being adopted more widely. Fiona Palmer, chief executive of The Gamstop Group, tied the growth to the tool's flexibility and effectiveness.

"The consistent year on year growth in registrations demonstrates the program's value as a flexible and effective tool," said Fiona Palmer, CEO of The Gamstop Group.

Matt Burgiss, head of external affairs at the Gamstop Group, pointed to major football tournaments as a recurring trigger for higher gambling activity and, in turn, higher demand for self-exclusion, warning that risky online casino play tends to climb during events like the World Cup.

How long are people excluding themselves for?

The length of exclusion people choose reveals how seriously users are treating the decision. Around 50% of all GamStop users have selected the maximum five year exclusion, the longest option available, while 38% of younger registrants opt for the minimum six month break. That split shows the tool serving two distinct needs at once: a decisive long term lockout for some, and a short circuit breaker for others who want a defined pause.

Metric	H1 2026 figure
Overall registration growth (year on year)	up 16%
Under-25 registration growth (year on year)	up 26%
Record monthly sign-ups (May 2026)	12,236
Total registered users	614,738
Users choosing the 5 year exclusion	around 50%
Younger users choosing the 6 month minimum	38%
Share of new sign-ups who are men	more than 70%

What is GamStop and how does it work?

GamStop is a free national online self-exclusion scheme that lets people in Great Britain block themselves from all licensed online gambling operators in a single step. Once a person registers and chooses a minimum period of six months, one year or five years, every company licensed by the Gambling Commission is required to prevent that person from gambling or receiving marketing for the duration. Since March 2022 registration with GamStop has been a mandatory condition of a Gambling Commission operating licence, which is why the scheme reaches the entire regulated market.

Why do World Cup years push self-exclusion higher?

Major football tournaments reliably lift both gambling activity and self-exclusion, which is why the 2026 World Cup summer matters for these numbers. Heavy advertising, in-play betting markets and the emotional swings of a tournament combine to increase impulsive play, and GamStop expects July 2026 sign-ups to exceed even May's record as the tournament progresses and as teams are eliminated. The scheme has previously noted spikes in registrations around moments of national disappointment, such as an England exit.

How does this fit the wider UK gambling picture?

The self-exclusion surge sits alongside other signs of a shifting UK gambling landscape. Recent Gambling Commission survey work showed UK youth gambling participation easing, even as tools like GamStop see record demand, suggesting that fewer young people may be gambling overall while those who do are more willing to use protective controls. For operators, rising self-exclusion is a compliance and commercial reality: it removes customers from the marketable pool, but it also demonstrates that the safer gambling infrastructure regulators demand is being used.

What does the surge mean for operators?

For licensed operators the message is twofold. First, GamStop enrolment is not optional plumbing; it is a hard block that every UK licensee must honour, and rising volumes mean more customers moving out of reach during peak betting windows such as the World Cup. Second, the growth in younger, more safety conscious users signals that responsible gambling features are becoming a genuine expectation rather than a regulatory afterthought. Operators that make deposit limits, timeouts and self-exclusion easy to find are increasingly aligned with what a large share of their customers actually want.

Key facts at a glance

• GamStop registrations rose 16% year on year in H1 2026.
• Under-25 sign-ups rose 26% and now make up nearly one in three of all self-exclusions.
• May 2026 set a record with 12,236 new registrations.
• More than 614,000 people have registered with GamStop since 2018.
• Around half of all users choose the maximum five year exclusion.

Frequently asked questions

How many people registered with GamStop in the first half of 2026?

GamStop registrations rose 16% year on year in H1 2026. May 2026 alone saw a record 12,236 new sign-ups, and the scheme now has more than 614,000 total users.

Are younger people using GamStop more?

Yes. Registrations among people under 25 rose 26% year on year in H1 2026, and this age group now accounts for nearly one in three of all new self-exclusions.

How long does a GamStop self-exclusion last?

Users choose a minimum period of six months, one year or five years. Around 50% of all GamStop users select the maximum five year exclusion, while 38% of younger registrants pick the six month minimum.

Is GamStop mandatory for UK gambling sites?

Yes. Since March 2022, registration with GamStop has been a condition of holding a Gambling Commission online operating licence, so every licensed operator in Great Britain must block registered users.

Does the World Cup affect self-exclusion numbers?

GamStop expects July 2026 sign-ups to exceed May's record as the 2026 World Cup progresses. Major tournaments tend to raise gambling activity and demand for self-exclusion, especially around moments like a national team's elimination.

Updated July 2026. Figures are from The Gamstop Group as reported by SBC News and iGaming Business.