Staying in Control at Casinos Outside GamStop
Updated
Responsible gambling at offshore casinos depends on tools the player sets up, because GamStop does not reach sites licensed in Curaçao. The curacaocasinosnotwithgamstop.com team lists the free UK support services, the blocks that still work and the account tools at each brand we review.
Questions on this page (10)
- Why GamStop Does Not Protect Players at Offshore Sites
- Free Support Services in the UK
- Registering With GamStop Step by Step
- Blocks That Work Outside GamStop
- Account Tools at the Brands We Review
- Setting Limits Before the First Deposit
- When Crypto Is Involved
- Help for Family and Friends
- Signs That Play Needs a Pause
- Protecting Under-18s
Why GamStop Does Not Protect Players at Offshore Sites
GamStop does not protect players at offshore sites because only UK Gambling Commission licensees must join it. Curacao casinos not affected by GamStop can accept a player who is self-excluded at every UK site.
A player who set up a GamStop exclusion did so for a reason that offshore access does not change. The exclusion cannot be removed early, and the free services below are available whether or not a player has an offshore account.
Free Support Services in the UK
The services below are free and open to anyone affected by gambling, including family members. None of them requires a referral.
| Service | What it offers | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| National Gambling Helpline | Advice and referral, 24 hours a day | 0808 8020 133 or live chat at GamCare |
| NHS gambling clinics | Specialist treatment for adults in England | NHS gambling support |
| Gordon Moody | Residential and online therapy programmes | gordonmoody.org.uk |
| Gamblers Anonymous UK | Peer support meetings across the UK | gamblersanonymous.org.uk |
| StepChange | Free debt advice | stepchange.org |
GamCare also offers a short self-assessment for players who are unsure whether their gambling has become a problem. Family members can use the same helpline.
Registering With GamStop Step by Step
GamStop registration is free and done online at gamstop.co.uk. It blocks every UKGC-licensed site, and the blocks further down this page add cover for offshore sites.
GamStop lists the details it asks for in its registration guide. The steps below follow that order.
- Have a passport or driving licence ready, or a provisional licence, citizen card, or work or travel card showing the date of birth.
- Enter title, full name and date of birth exactly as they appear on the ID.
- Add every email address, mobile number and postal address used for gambling accounts, including old ones.
- Take a new photo of the ID when asked, rather than uploading an existing image.
- Choose an exclusion period of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
Listing old addresses and email accounts matters, because an account opened under different details may not be matched.
Blocks That Work Outside GamStop
Blocks that act on payments or devices reach offshore casinos, because they do not depend on the operator's licence. Using two of them together closes most gaps.
| Block | What it stops | Gap to know about |
|---|---|---|
| Bank gambling block | Card payments to gambling merchants | Does not stop crypto or e-wallet top-ups |
| Gamban or BetBlocker | Access to gambling sites on a device | Must be installed on every device |
| Paysafecard gambling block | Voucher payments to gambling merchants | Covers only the Paysafecard account |
| Crypto exchange limits | Transfers from an exchange account | Settings differ by exchange |
Monzo, Starling and HSBC apply a 48-hour delay before a gambling block can be lifted. This delay gives time to reconsider a decision made in the moment.
Editor's note. A bank block alone leaves crypto open, and every brand on our list takes crypto. A device blocker covers the route that bank settings cannot.
Account Tools at the Brands We Review
Each brand offers its own limits and exclusion tools inside the account. These tools apply to one brand at a time.
| Tool | Booming Slots | VeloBet and Rolletto |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limits | Lower limits apply at once, higher limits after 24 hours | Available in the account |
| Time-out | Can be revoked only after 48 hours | Not detailed in the general terms |
| Self-exclusion | Starts with a 72-hour cooling-off period | Available in the account |
VeloBet and Rolletto share one operator. A self-exclusion at one of them should not be assumed to cover the other, so a separate request to each brand closes the gap. Brand details sit in the VeloBet review, the Rolletto review and the Booming Slots review.
Setting Limits Before the First Deposit
Limits work best when they are set before play starts. The order below takes about ten minutes.
- Decide a monthly amount that can be lost without affecting bills or savings.
- Set a deposit limit in the casino account that matches it.
- Turn on a bank gambling block for every card not meant for gambling.
- Install a device blocker on any phone or computer used late at night.
- Save the National Gambling Helpline number, 0808 8020 133, in the phone.
When Crypto Is Involved
Crypto deposits pass around bank gambling blocks, because the payment leaves an exchange or wallet rather than a card. All three brands we review accept crypto.
| Step | What it does |
|---|---|
| Device blocker on every phone and computer | Stops access to the casino whatever the payment method |
| Exchange account kept separate from savings | Limits how much can move in one session |
| Exchange withdrawal limits where offered | Slows transfers made on impulse |
Help for Family and Friends
Family and friends can use the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 in the same way as players. Gam-Anon runs support groups for relatives and friends of people who gamble.
Practical help often starts with money. A bank gambling block on a joint account, and StepChange for free debt advice, protect a household while the player seeks support.
Signs That Play Needs a Pause
Certain patterns show that gambling has moved beyond entertainment. GamCare and the NHS list similar signs.
- Spending more time or money than planned on a regular basis.
- Depositing again to win back a loss.
- Hiding gambling from family or borrowing to fund it.
- Feeling restless or irritable when not gambling.
One of these signs is a reason to set a time-out at once and speak to the National Gambling Helpline.
Protecting Under-18s
Gambling is for adults only, and every brand on our list runs identity checks under its terms. Device-level blockers and parental controls on phones and computers prevent access by children in the same household.
Questions about this page can be sent through our contact page. The steps for checking any casino's licence are on our licence check guide, and the main guide explains where offshore sites differ from UK-licensed ones.
18+ only. Free, confidential support is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.