The UK’s GamStop System: Model for Responsible Gambling in Hungary

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Gambling is a large and constantly growing industry. It goes hand in hand with increasing concerns regarding problem gambling. Players and bettors worldwide, including Hungary, call for advanced control and self-exclusion tools. The prevalence of problem gambling in Hungary has reached 1.9%, and 1.4% of players suffer from pathological gambling. 

Luckily, there are more companies and services that care about players and help them take control of their gambling activities. One of them is the UK free service called GamStop. The total number of people registered with this successful model that promotes responsible gambling is over 400k. Let’s discover how implementing a similar system can benefit Hungarian gamblers!

Understanding GamStop and Its Impact in the UK

GamStop is a free online service that is used by players who want to exclude themselves from gambling on online platforms and apps that possess UKGC licenses. The available self-exclusion periods are six months, one year or five years. 

The platform works only with gambling sites licensed in Great Britain. It means that there are still many available non GamStop online slots to play even if you are on GamStop. However, it allows you to self-exclude yourself on more than 120 platforms simultaneously. You can access the full list of these platforms on the GamStop official website You need to complete a short registration process on the site, provide your personal details, and confirm your identity to become a member.

GamStop sign-ups have increased by 9.5% in 2023, and 55% of all members have opted for the longest self-exclusion period of 5 years. This shows the importance of self-exclusion for people who struggle with gambling problems. It helped thousands of punters to prevent or minimize the negative effects of gambling as well as take control of their gambling activity if it was a problem before.

The Current State of Online Gambling in Hungary

Gambling is very popular in Hungary, with an online gambling market that is going to reach €514.80 million in 2024. The total number of players is going to reach 467.8K by 2028, and the penetration rate is predicted to be 4.2% in 2024. 

The country has the Gambling Act that regulates gambling activity. In January 2023, the government made amendments to this legislation to implement more technical changes to facilitate the growth of the gaming market, improve its regulation, and add transparency. One of the points in this document states that a gambling operator should point out that using the functions of this platform may entail an increased risk of excessive gambling.

 In November 2021, the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities introduced a responsible gambling decree that obliges gambling operators to provide information about risks and damages connected with gambling addiction. It also makes operators restrict vulnerable players and offer self-exclusion measures.

There’s space for improvement since gambling legislation must be made safer and more player-oriented. Not only should the industry be more accessible, but also self-exclusion systems and projects. They must use advanced data analytics tools and AI models to detect indicators of problem gambling and prevent serious outcomes.

Potential Benefits of Implementing a System Like GamStop in Hungary

Since Hungary doesn’t have its own centralized self-exclusion system, GamStop can become an example to follow. It is a real way out for people suffering from gambling addiction or those who are at risk of developing it. The availability of this service for Hungarian gamblers may open a range of benefits, including:

• Enhanced player protection;
• Prevention of gambling addiction;
• Regulatory compliance;
• Free of charge help;
• No way to skip the block;

Challenges and Considerations of GamStop for Hungary

The implementation of GamStop or a similar self-exclusion system isn’t an easy task. The country should develop a technological infrastructure to offer the necessary assistance and secure personal details. 

Incorporating data analytics tools can make it possible to compare players’ registration details with the details they give to a self-exclusion platform to block them on multiple websites simultaneously. Therefore, it should contain information about all licensed operators in Hungary and registered players. The government needs to make legal adjustments to regulate this system and introduce a body that will take control of it. 

Another important step in this way is to increase public awareness about the possible risks of gambling, problems that may arise, and the system that is going to be introduced. This includes various campaigns on NonGamStopBetting bookmakers that accept players to increase the awareness of the program even before it is launched. It can be achieved by telling stories of other users, launching special platforms that inform on this topic, running education campaigns and helpline services, and monitoring the behaviour of players in real time.

One of the main challenges faced by GamStop when it was introduced in the UK was to make operators subscribe. The UKGC had to put pressure on companies who had already received their licenses, and later, it became one of the conditions to get it again. This problem can be possibly faced by the future Hungarian self-exclusion system, too.

Conclusion and the Way Forward

Responsible gambling systems like GamStop may achieve the same popularity in Hungary and other countries. They can reduce the chances of falling victim to gambling addiction and offer professional assistance to those who have already experienced this problem. 

Access to such systems allows punters to avoid both financial and mental issues that come with problem gambling. It is a powerful tool to prevent people from ruining their lives and making gambling fun instead of the problem. 

Hungary should provide gamblers with access to a centralized system that can cover a majority of gambling institutions operating in the country. It will require collaboration between the government, gambling operators, society, and public health organizations. This includes a lot of work and time, but the result may significantly reduce problem gambling!

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