Registered self-exclusions in Germany reach approximately 350,000 individuals

In the realm of online gambling, self-exclusion programs have emerged as a significant tool to combat problematic gambling behaviour. Two notable examples are GamStop in the United Kingdom, launched in 2018, and OASIS in Germany, which debuted in 2021.

GamStop and OASIS allow individuals to exclude themselves from regulated gambling websites for varying periods, ranging from as short as 24 hours to over a decade. The ease of self-exclusion on operators' platforms, coupled with the availability of short-term options, may contribute to the appeal for individuals to opt into these programs.

According to data, the majority of self-excluded individuals in both countries have chosen to exclude themselves for a full year. Approximately 7,459 individuals have been excluded for a period between five and ten years, while around 22,381 individuals have been excluded for more than ten years in the German market.

The success of these programs, such as OASIS in Germany, could be partially attributed to the user-friendly integration into operators' websites. However, self-exclusion presents a challenge for regulated markets, as it allows offshore operators to exploit loopholes and target individuals who have self-excluded from regulated markets, such as those in the United Kingdom.

In the UK, searches for "gambling websites not on GamStop" are becoming more common in Google searches, indicating a growing trend of individuals seeking out unregulated gambling platforms. Similarly, in Germany, all gambling operators are obligated to connect to the OASIS system, but offshore operators are not bound by these regulations, creating a potential avenue for exploitation.

It's important to note that the 22,381 people excluded from the German gambling market for more than ten years are individuals who have self-excluded or been excluded due to regulations. However, specific identities and the exact offshore gambling websites they visit are not publicly disclosed.

Both GamStop and OASIS are programs designed to tackle gambling-related harm. Despite their benefits, they face the challenge of ensuring that individuals do not circumvent self-exclusion by resorting to offshore operators.

As of now, the United Kingdom has approximately 560,000 self-excluded individuals on GamStop, while OASIS in Germany has registered approximately 336,980 individuals. The lower number in Germany may be due to differences in population size or the length of time since the programs were launched.

A recent study by Yield Sec revealed that 71% of the total gambling market in the European Union is controlled by offshore websites, highlighting the need for robust regulations to protect individuals from the potential harms of unregulated gambling.

In conclusion, while self-exclusion programs like GamStop and OASIS are valuable tools in the fight against problematic gambling, they also present challenges in terms of ensuring that individuals do not resort to offshore operators. Ongoing efforts to strengthen regulations and improve the effectiveness of self-exclusion programs are crucial in this regard.