Gamstop has recorded a sharp increase in self-exclusion among younger users, with registrations from 16–24-year-olds rising by 40% year on year during the second half of 2025.
Data from the national online self-exclusion scheme shows under-25s now account for nearly a third (29%) of all new registrations, underlining a growing shift toward earlier and more preventative use of consumer protection tools.
Younger users were also the only age group to favour short-term exclusion periods, with 38% opting for a six-month block. Across all age groups, however, longer exclusions continued to dominate, with 47% selecting a minimum five-year term.
Gamstop highlighted accelerating demand for extended protection following the introduction of its five-year auto-renewal option in December 2024.
Figures released for December 2025 show that, for the first time, more than half of users choosing a five-year exclusion also selected automatic renewal. Gamstop views this trend positively, as users are effectively opting for a long-term or lifetime-style block from online gambling services.
The scheme now covers more than 562,000 active self-exclusions across the UK, following 58,675 new registrations in the second half of 2025 alone — equivalent to an average of 319 people per day.
Fiona Palmer, CEO of The Gamstop Group, said the figures reflect both rising awareness and growing reliance on long-term harm-reduction tools.
“The continued year-on-year growth in registrations highlights the increasing need for effective self-exclusion services,” Palmer stated. “The rise in take-up of our auto-renewal option shows that many consumers are seeking longer-term support and recognise the value of self-exclusion in managing their gambling.”
The data was released alongside a rebrand of the Multi Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme for Betting Shops (MOSES), which will now operate as Gamstop Betting Shops following its integration into The Gamstop Group.
The move brings online and retail self-exclusion under a unified consumer protection brand. More than 9,000 consumers are currently registered across Gamstop Betting Shops, covering around 6,000 premises operated by over 60 retail gambling businesses in the UK.
This week, NHS England also published its Health Survey Estimates (HSE), which maintains that around 5% of adults are classified as at risk of gambling-related harm, while severe problem gambling remains just under 1%.
Although the survey did not provide an age-specific breakdown, it highlighted clear gender disparities, with between 3% and 7% of men displaying early or moderate indicators of gambling harm.
The NHS continues to pivot towards a population-level approach to gambling harm prevention, focusing on early intervention alongside specialist treatment services.
