Rising Self-Exclusion Among Younger Bettors
Data from the UK’s national gambling self-exclusion service GamStop shows a significant rise in registrations from younger bettors, suggesting shifts in how younger adults are managing their gambling habits.
According to figures covering the six-month period to 31 December 2025, GamStop recorded 58,675 new registrations, averaging about 319 per day, with people aged 16 to 24 accounting for 29 % of those sign-ups. That represents a 40 % year-on-year increase in registrations among this age group compared with the same period in 2024.
The data, published by the gambling industry press and drawing on information from GamStop Online, highlights that younger adults are increasingly opting to self-exclude from all UK-licensed online gambling services, a tool aimed at helping individuals manage or reduce harmful gambling behaviour.
Exclusion Lengths And Expanded Access
GamStop offers several exclusion durations, from six months to five years. While the longest term remained the most popular overall across all age groups, data indicates that 38 % of those aged 16–24 chose the six-month option, compared with wider usage patterns where 47 % of all new users in the period selected a five-year exclusion.
In addition to online self-exclusion, GamStop now encompasses the Multi Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme for Betting Shops (MOSES), a service previously accessible only by telephone. Under its new branding, GamStop Betting Shops, registrations can now be completed online, extending the reach of exclusion tools beyond the digital sphere.
Implications For Harm Prevention In The UK
The rise in young adults seeking self-exclusion may reflect greater awareness of harm-reduction tools, particularly among younger demographics that have grown up with digital gambling products. Observers in the gambling harm-prevention sector note that this trend could also underscore broader social and economic pressures influencing gambling behaviours among younger adults, including the rapid proliferation of mobile betting and gaming platforms.
However, the increase also highlights ongoing concerns about gambling-related harm, particularly among younger consumers who may be more susceptible to problem gambling behaviours. Self-exclusion tools like GamStop are increasingly positioned not only as reactive safety nets but as proactive harm-management resources for individuals recognising early signs of risky gambling.
While the data to date focuses on registration trends rather than detailed demographic motivations, the figures suggest that self-exclusion is becoming an increasingly visible part of the broader responsible gambling landscape in the UK. Regulators and support organisations continue to emphasise the importance of awareness, education, and accessible tools for those seeking to control their gambling.
