Gambling addiction: Flaws exposed in online self-exclusion scheme BBC News

The BBC found a gambler who had self-referred could still place bets online by simply changing their user details. Twelve months later, a different BBC producer banned himself from 20 of the same shops in the town and was allowed to place bets in 15 of them. Last year, a 5 live producer excluded himself from 21 betting shops in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, using the Multi-Operator Self Exclusion Scheme (MOSES). His son now campaigns to raise awareness around the risks of online gambling. Adam Bradford, from Sheffield, only discovered his father David’s online gambling problem in 2014, when David was jailed for two years for fraud.

BBC News Services

GamStop is a free, independent self-exclusion scheme for people with online gambling problems. The Senet Group, which uses funding from bookmakers to run the scheme, said «the results of this investigation are disappointing» but insisted MOSES is an «important first step for people who genuinely want to reduce their gambling». However, by changing a few small details – including misspelling a surname – BBC Radio 5 live Investigates discovered it was still very easy to open a new account and continue gambling, even while banned. BBC Radio 5 live Investigates also found that the self-exclusion scheme for High Street bookmakers is seriously flawed. The Gambling Commission, which regulates the industry, has said it will soon announce the results of a consultation on using ID verification, which would prevent customers gambling using incorrect details on online gambling sites. However, a few days later he showed 5 live Investigates how he was able to open a new online betting account by simply using a different email address and changing a letter in his name.

However, the trade association added that it was encouraged by the results of a survey of genuine participants of the scheme. The Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) said it was «disappointed» with the findings. The operators of the scheme, the Senet Group, said lessons would be learned. Adam Bradford campaigns to raise gambling awareness after his father, David, suffered problems

More than 50,000 people have signed up to GamStop, which was launched in April 2018 to allow addicts to ban themselves from online betting platforms. The head of a scheme designed to help problem gamblers says she is «deeply concerned» after an investigation found people were able to cheat the system. Sonnet was engaged by GAMSTOP to undertake research to assess its effectiveness and to build a more detailed understanding of who is using the self-exclusion scheme. However, shadow culture secretary Tom Watson said the investigation demonstrated the two schemes «aren’t fit for purpose». Adam Bradford said other people had told him how easy it was to bypass the exclusion system.

«I think it’s scandalous – it means the hundreds of thousands of betting addicts across the country are not being protected. The industry is putting up what I think is a facade. It doesn’t work,» he added. As part of the investigation, he registered himself with GamStop. 5 Live Investigates has found serious flaws in scheme designed to help problem gamblers.

• However, the trade association added that it was encouraged by the results of a survey of genuine participants of the scheme.
• Gamblers register their details and choose how long they want to be banned for.
• His son now campaigns to raise awareness around the risks of online gambling.
• GamStop is a free, independent self-exclusion scheme for people with online gambling problems.

What is GamStop?

In total, Mr Bradford lost more than £100,000 gambling online. Gamblers register their details and choose how long they want to non gamstop casinos be banned for. Since the launch of GAMSTOP in 2018, over 170,000 consumers have registered to self-exclude from gambling. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. If you’ve been affected by gambling addiction, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line. He promised to take the BBC’s findings to the government.

The Ripple Effect: how essential digital skills create social value and improve lives

They should then not be able to logon to gambling websites.