In the last couple of years, non Gamstop casinos have enjoyed a huge surge of popularity. So-called ‘non-Gamstop casinos’ refer to sites based outside of the UK. Therefore, they fall outside the jurisdiction of the Gamstop program.
There are many reasons why these non-Gamstop casino sites are popular. But what exactly is Gamstop? And what should you look for in a no Gamstop casino?
Finally, is it safe to play at these non Gamstop sites? Let’s find out!
What is Gamstop?
Gamstop is a not-for-profit organisation that runs alongside the UK government. And its purpose is to help problem gamblers curb their habits. By allowing them to self exclude from all gambling sites in the UK for a predetermined period of time.
If you decide to subscribe to the Gamstop program, you’ll be offered a self-exclusion period of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. And, once your subscription has started, you won’t be able to access any gambling sites in the whole of the UK. Until your self-exclusion period has fully elapsed.
Gamstop was set up in 2018. And has enjoyed recent success due to its all-encompassing approach. Because all UK-licensed real-money sites are legally obligated to be part of the Gamstop program, this means that players can’t access any gambling sites whatsoever once their subscription has started.
Furthermore, Gamstop cannot be reversed. So players must be 100% committed to fulfilling their subscription when they sign up.
What is a casino not on Gamstop?
Because GameStop is a UK-based program, it only applies to sites with a licence to operate in the UK. Therefore, a casino that’s not part of Gamstop is simply one that is based outside of the UK. You can often hear them called ‘offshore’ or ‘overseas’ casinos as well.
Is it safe to play at casinos not on Gamstop?
The short answer is yes. Just because a casino is based outside of UK territory, it doesn’t mean the site is unsafe. In fact, a lot of the best casinos in the world are based offshore. And players love the variety of games and bigger bonuses that are on offer at these sites.
Therefore, as long as a casino has a licence from a reputable authority, you shouldn’t worry about a site’s safety.
What to look for in casinos not on Gamstop
So, now you know casinos outside of Gamstop are safe. Let’s explore what you should look for in a fantastic offshore site.
A fantastic welcome bonus
One of the best things about signing up to gambling sites not on Gamstop is the bonus deal that you get as a new player.
As part of an awesome welcome package, we would expect to see one or more of the following:
- No deposit bonus: get bonus cash and/or free spins to use at the casino without making a deposit
- Match deposit bonuses: this is where the casino will match your deposit amount with a percentage of bonus cash. Within the UK, the maximum you can get is usually around 200%. But, at an overseas casino, you could be looking at up to 500% on top of your deposit amount
- Free spins: use your bonus spins to play fun and exciting slot games. Also, offshore casinos offer some of the greatest selections of slots that you won’t find anywhere in the UK
Site safety
The most important thing that you can do when looking at any real-money site is make sure that you stay safe. As we’ve seen, checking for a valid licence from a reputable authority is one of the simplest things you should do.
Beyond that, you can also check that a site holds an SSL certificate. As this means that the site uses encryption software. And therefore any transaction between you and the casino will be protected.
Checking for SSL encryption is super easy. Simply take a look at the address bar at the top of your screen. Next to the casino’s link there should be a padlock, which will appear to be locked.
Finally, one way to check for safety features is to read reviews of casinos not on Gamstop. As these sites have all been vetted by a team of expert reviewers. So you know the sites listed and all super safe and secure.
Incredible game selection
Finally, playing at a non-Gamstop casino means access to games that you won’t find in the UK. These sites get their games from the top providers around the world. And you can play the most state-of-the-art slots, table games and live casino titles. All the best casinos that aren’t part of Gamstop.