In recent years, non-GamStop casinos have started to become more and more popular. As heavier restrictions come into place in the UK by the likes of the Gambling Commission and GamStop, people are looking for alternative ways to play their favorite casino games without having to deal with any limitations.
Non-GamStop casinos are often a destination for high rollers who are not going to be restricted by low deposit limits and betting sizes. There will also often be juicer promotions and a wider range of payment options. On the other hand, there are also some darker aspects to consider, such as gambling addiction. This article will look at the good and bad aspects of non-GamStop casinos.
Non-GamStop Casinos – No Limit Play for High Rollers?
GamStop is a free self-exclusion service in the UK that allows you to quickly self-exclude from all of the participating casinos. This means that if you are having a problem with your gambling, you can prevent yourself from using these casino sites. All online casinos that are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission need to be a part of GamStop.
Non-GamStop casinos exist as they bypass the restrictions in place on GamStop casinos, such as tight limits on transactions and betting. This is why high rollers often seek non-GamStop casinos. However, the downside is that those people who are struggling with a gambling addiction can find workarounds to their GamStop self-exclusion.
Game Selection
In terms of game selection, there may be a lot of games on offer, but some of the bigger developers do not work with non-GamStop casinos. Therefore, there will be many popular titles not available. There will also be very few progressive jackpot games on offer.
Security
Some non-GamStop casinos will be licensed elsewhere. This could be in Europe through the Malta Gaming Authority or by the authorities in Curacao. Then there will be some platforms that are not licensed at all.
It is pretty easy to get licensed in Curacao and there is not as strict oversight as with other gambling regulators, so this needs to be taken into consideration when you are assessing the merits of a platform.
While most of the legit non-GamStop casinos will have proper encryption technology in place to protect sensitive data, there will be less player protection available than UK platforms. Do your research to make sure you are using a safe casino.
Is non licensed casino play really legal?
It is legal for people in the UK to play at non-GamStop casinos and there is no issue with these platforms operating. However, they cannot legally promote their offerings to UK residents.
The Dark Side of Non-GamStop Gambling – Addiction
Gambling addiction is a big issue. People can lose control of themselves and lose a lot of money. If they do not seek help or they slip up, they can spiral out of control. If they are self-excluded from UK sites through GamStop, they can still use non-GamStop casinos.
This is obviously an issue and these people will need to seek further help to deal with their problems. Most of the non-GamStop casinos will have their own self-exclusion programs in place and different account restrictions you can use, such as loss limits and cool-off periods.
Pros and Cons Casinos not on GamStop
Pros
- High deposit and betting limits
- Lucrative promotions
- Large game libraries
- Many payment options
Cons
- Problem gamblers can avoid GamStop self-exclusion
- Some big developers don’t supply games
Try or Avoid Non-GamStop Casinos?
This question is something you need to answer for yourself. For anyone struggling with gambling addiction, they should definitely avoid non-GamStop casinos and seek help. However, if you are a high roller or someone who doesn’t want to be constrained by strict deposit and betting limits, non-GamStop casinos can be a great choice.
There are often very lucrative signup bonuses on offer, as well as certain payment methods that are not available at GamStop casinos, such as credit card deposits.
