Free spins without GAMSTOP

What free spins without GAMSTOP really means

GAMSTOP is the free national scheme that lets you block yourself from every gambling website and app licensed in Great Britain in one step. Since 31 March 2020, the Gambling Commission has required all online operators to take part; licence code 3.5.5 says licensees must participate in the national multi-operator self-exclusion scheme. You can read the code on the Commission's remote multi-operator self-exclusion page (opens in a new tab).

So when a site advertises spins 'without GAMSTOP' or 'not on GAMSTOP', it's telling you something important: it doesn't hold a Gambling Commission licence for British customers. Whatever the spins look like, they come without the rules that protect players in Great Britain. This page is part of our responsible gambling section. It contains no offers, and we don't name or link to any unlicensed site.

Why people search for spins without GAMSTOP

Most people who search this phrase fall into one of two groups. Some registered with GAMSTOP, often during a hard time, and now want to gamble again before the exclusion ends. Others haven't self-excluded but have seen adverts for sites promising bigger spins offers with fewer conditions.

If you're in the first group, the urge to find a way round your own exclusion is worth taking seriously. It's a common experience, and it's exactly the moment the scheme was designed for. Talking it through with someone, even once, can help. The support section below lists free services, and our guide to bonuses and gambling harm explains how offers can feed into harmful play.

Feeling the need to get round a block you set for yourself can be a sign that gambling is causing harm. The National Gambling Helpline is free and confidential on 0808 8020 133, any time of day.

Protections you lose with free spins without GAMSTOP

Licensed operators in Great Britain have to follow a long list of rules that unlicensed sites don't. The table compares the two.

Each of these rules has its own background. Our pages on the 10x wagering cap, the credit card ban, online slot stake limits and complaints and ADR rules explain what each one does.

Why bonus terms off GAMSTOP can't be relied on

A spins offer at a licensed site has to show its significant terms clearly, must not let the operator change a promotion after you've opted in except to prevent fraud, and must not use vague 'we may void winnings' wording without spelling out the breach. None of that is enforceable in Britain against a site with no British licence. In practice, terms can be changed, winnings can be withheld and there is no UK regulator or approved dispute service to turn to.

There's also the question of where the spins lead. Offers aimed at people who have self-excluded are, by design, offers aimed at people who have already said gambling was a problem for them. The guide to offshore casino bonus risks goes into detail, and the guide to casino bonus scams shows common patterns.

How GAMSTOP self-exclusion works

GAMSTOP is run by The National Online Self Exclusion Scheme Limited and is free to use. You choose an exclusion period of between 6 months and 5 years, and you can set it to renew. The exclusion can't be cancelled early, and once the period ends it stays in place until you contact GAMSTOP to remove it. You can register on the GAMSTOP website (opens in a new tab).

When you're excluded, licensed operators must refuse you service, close your accounts and return your funds, take you off their marketing within two days and point you to support. Instant-win lottery games are blocked, but draw-based games such as Lotto aren't covered, and GAMSTOP applies to online gambling only. Our GAMSTOP rules page and the GAMSTOP glossary entry explain the details, and how to self-exclude walks through registering.

Steps to strengthen your blocks

If you're worried about being drawn to sites outside GAMSTOP, adding more layers makes it harder to act on a passing urge. These steps work alongside each other:

1. Keep your GAMSTOP exclusion in place, and consider choosing a longer period or renewal when it's due.
2. Turn on your bank's gambling block if it offers one; several UK banks do, including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Monzo, NatWest, Santander and Starling.
3. Install blocking software such as Gamban on your phone and computer; Halifax and Lloyds offer access to Gamban licences.
4. Unsubscribe from gambling emails and texts, and block numbers that send them.
5. Tell someone you trust what you're doing, so you're not managing it alone.
6. Contact the National Gambling Helpline or GamCare to talk about further support.

Bank blocks have limits worth knowing. Revolut says its block doesn't affect bank transfers or payments through third-party apps, and Lloyds says its freeze doesn't cover direct debits or bank transfers. The Gambling Commission's page on blocking gambling payments with your bank (opens in a new tab) lists banks with blocks, and our guides to the Barclays gambling block and Monzo gambling block show how to set two of them up.

Payment providers and unlicensed gambling

Several payment providers restrict payments to gambling sites that aren't properly licensed. Skrill's and Neteller's terms both prohibit payments for unlicensed or illegal gambling, and PayPal only allows gambling transactions with approved sellers in permitted jurisdictions. That means a site outside the UK system may push you towards payment routes with fewer safeguards. If you notice that happening, treat it as another warning sign, not a problem to solve.

Where to get help instead of free spins without GAMSTOP

All of these services are free and confidential. You don't need to be in crisis to use them.

You can talk to an adviser through GamCare's support page (opens in a new tab), find NHS treatment through the NHS help for gambling problems page (opens in a new tab), and find local meetings on the Gamblers Anonymous website (opens in a new tab).

How to tell whether a site is licensed in Great Britain

Licensed operators should show their licence and account number in the site or app footer, and you can search the Gambling Commission's public register by business name, trading name, domain or account number. If a site isn't there, it isn't licensed to offer gambling to people in Britain. Our guides to checking a casino licence and telling a licensed casino from an unlicensed one explain each step.

This check matters for anyone, not just people who have self-excluded. A site that welcomes players who are on GAMSTOP is, by definition, not following the rules that apply to licensed operators.

When a GAMSTOP exclusion ends

An exclusion doesn't lapse on its own. When the minimum period ends, it stays active until you ask GAMSTOP to remove it. That gives you time to think about whether you're ready. If you do return to gambling at a licensed site, set a deposit limit from the start, consider a time-out if things start to slip, and keep in mind that operators must stop offering bonuses to customers showing strong signs of harm. The page on claiming a bonus after self-exclusion covers what happens next, and the guide on when to say no to a bonus may help you decide.

A note for players in Northern Ireland

The Gambling Commission's rules cover Great Britain. Northern Ireland has its own gambling law, and its planned reform to regulate online gambling stalled in 2022, so you shouldn't assume Commission protections apply there. Support services such as GamCare and Gamblers Anonymous (which covers England, Wales and Ulster) are still available. Our page on Northern Ireland gambling law explains the position.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: set a budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.