In 2019, the size of the online gambling industry reached a staggering $45.8 billion. Although this industry started modestly in the nineties of the last century, it has achieved this tremendous growth thanks to the recent tech developments, internet speeds increment, providing more gaming options, and offering more lucrative bonuses to entice players. As a result, the number of casinos and sports betting sites is increasing month by month.
The Cat and Mouse Game!
This industry is fiercely competitive, many cat and mouse games are being played in this industry but the most interesting one is the competition between new casinos and the old ones. The main objective of all new casinos is to beat the established ones by offering the features that the first group lacks! On the other side, the long standing casinos aim to maintain their position by offering more options within the laws of their licensors.
UKGC Concerns About Gambling Addiction
During the year 2020 and the beginning of 2021, the world suffered from the dramatic spread of the Corona virus that forced governments to apply the lockdown and curfew to keep the social distance and contain the virus. As a result, everyone has stayed at his home for an extended period. Consequently, many people have turned to online gambling activities, which has raised the concerns of the UKGC about the spread of gambling addiction on a wider range, specially since the newcomers are driven by feelings of frustration and despair as a result of the deaths and infections news. Therefore, the UKGC has taken several rapid measures to reduce the gambling addiction potentials, namely:
- Require all online casinos, sports betting sites, and bingo networks to register with the self exclusion scheme, GamStop. Click here and read more.
- Blocking VIP programmes.
- Reduce rewards and bonuses.
- Limit the bonus features of slot
Certainly, these measures were not suitable for a large base of players. So, the offshore gambling companies were quick to provide the solution by launching many premium casinos outside GamStop. These casinos offer players more diverse gaming options. Also, they give their players larger rewards and many other attractive perks.
So, casinos not on GamStop quickly gained ground and became serious rivals to the UK casinos.
What is the secret behind the recent popularity of casinos not on GamStop?
A survey conducted in 2020 showed that more than 40% of Brits had placed at least one bet since the beginning of the year.
It is well known that the British gambling market is the largest in Europe. So, there is a big percentage of British players who are exposed to gambling addiction. Indeed, it is a serious matter that affects their business, expenses, and other issues.
Therefore, the UKGC recently required the gambling sites to join GamStop to reduce gambling addiction and protect weak willed players.
GamStop is the national UK online casinos self exclusion scheme. By using this service, the player can exclude himself from all UK gambling sites with only one request. This service is available to any gambler who lives in Britain and can easily sign up for it via their smartphone. GamStop provides its subscribers with varying cool off periods, ranging from 6 months, one year, and up to 5 years. However, the player can’t undo the ban, even if he finds out that he has no addiction!
GamStop has many downsides; It limits players’ freedom, prevents them from resuming play at their favourite casinos. Also, it does not tolerate players who want to end their self-ban early. Therefore, many UK were reluctant to integrate this service, but the response came quickly from the UKGC, which suspended their licenses afterwards!
So, in a way, offshore casinos have gained more popularity than the British ones.
What Are the Pros of Casinos Outside GamStop?
In addition to the freedom and free access, when you choose a casino not on GamStop, you will get a lot of great features, most notably:
Not Restricted With GamStop
Since offshore casinos do not hold the UKGC license, they are not obligated to integrate GamStop. Thus, you can join them even before your self exclusion period ends.
Bonuses and promotions
Most of the casinos outside of GameStop are still kids on the block. So, they offer a larger package of bonuses to gain a bigger share in the industry and entice players to join. On average, the welcome bonus can range from $1,000 to $5,000, which is, of course, a great value that British casinos cannot match.
Varied Game Bundle
Players can enjoy a wide variety of games in casinos not on GamStop! On average, these casinos offer 1,000 to 5,000 games. This bundle includes all variants of poker, baccarat, blackjack, and live casino games. Of course, this vast number means that the pickiest gamblers will find titles that suit their tastes.
Accept Many Payment Methods
Casinos not on GamStop strive to eliminate all obstacles that players may face while depositing and withdrawing. So, they accept a wide range of banking solutions, including bank cards, wallets, and cryptos. You can use these means to make your deposits and withdrawals freely without restrictions, hindrances or fees.
Crypto support
Most of the casinos not on GamStop accept Bitcoin and its digital cousins such as Ethereum and Litecoin.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best type of casino that offers slots, table games, betting and live games. Then, you should choose one of the non GamStop casinos! These sites provide you with a varied game bundle containing the classic rules and new releases. Also, you can obtain a unique set of bonuses, promos, and rewards. Furthermore, GamStop casinos accept a wide range of payment methods and currencies. In addition, casinos outside GamStop are licensed by various bodies, among which the main ones are the Curaçao Gaming Board.
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