ITV News provided significant information about the national service provider self-exclusion GAMSTOP , covering charity in an article about gambling addiction.
The publication highlighted that while retail bookmakers were closed for most of 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 social distancing measures, many bettors were able to use online verticals where protection may be more difficult for some.
While the report noted that online gambling was "at your fingertips," it added, "Fortunately for people suffering from gambling, there is help here in the form of the National Help Exclusion Scheme."
Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, elaborated on how the program works: “We always advocate a layered approach, joining GAMSTOP is the first stop.
“People have to register their details with us and they choose a minimum period for which they cannot participate in gambling. The minimum term is six months, one year or five years.
“Once they are registered with us, we tie them to a number of different treatment conditions and other tools.”
Importance of software for self-exclusion emphasized Liz Ritchie , company co-founder Gambling with Lives .
“It is absolutely essential to have proper locking software,” she said. "When people get addicted, they really need help to stop them when they feel a strong urge to gamble."
Describing in detail the dynamics of addiction, Dr Srinivas Lanka commented, "Most people don't realize they have a problem until they're in a crisis, usually a financial crisis, or a relationship crisis, or a job crisis that is a direct result of their addiction."
Stacy Goodwin , a former player and user of the GAMSTOP self-exclusion scheme, said: “I lost my entire paycheck within about 40 minutes of receiving it.
“I lost absolutely everything in my life, the apartment I rented, and I could not afford to feed myself. I was so consumed with thoughts of gambling that every penny went into gambling.”
Source - GAMSTOP Twitter
The GAMSTOP self-exclusion posting scheme promoted on ITV first appeared on GamblingTV.com.