You’re blessed with a diversity of options if you wish to enjoy online sports betting. There are thousands of different sites all over the internet with different betting options, bonuses and more. Many players opt to go down the traditional route and choose betting sites in the UK. However, this means all of the betting sites must adhere to strict rules – including signing up for the GamStop self-exclusion scheme.
As a consequence, we’ve seen a rise in betting sites not on GamStop with many UK players flocking to them instead. Websites and platforms like these are still relatively unknown to most members of the public. What exactly are they, how do they differ from traditional online bookmakers and what are the pros and cons of using them?
Defining Betting Sites Outside GamStop
A betting site not on GamStop is any type of website offering online gambling while not being part of the GamStop scheme. If you’re unaware, the UK Gambling Commission introduced a self-exclusion scheme in 2019 that allows problem gamblers to block themselves from multiple betting websites in one go. All UK-registered betting sites must become members of this scheme and will be added to the block list.
Therefore, sites that aren’t on GamStop are ones located outside the confines of the UK Gambling Commission. They don’t possess a UK gambling licence and can be registered anywhere in the world – from the US to remote islands in the middle of the ocean!
Is there a difference between non-GamStop sites and traditional ones?
Yes, but it is usually only related to licensing. As noted, bookmakers not linked to GamStop aren’t licensed or located in the UK. That’s the fundamental difference between the two types of betting platforms; everything else is relatively similar. They both provide the same betting markets, bonuses and so on.
Advantages of Joining Non-GamStop Bookmakers
Why might you consider joining a bookmaker with no connection to the GamStop scheme? It’s an option many punters choose to pursue and here are the biggest advantages of doing so:
Able to bet while self-excluding
The biggest reason people choose non-GamStop bookmakers is that they can bet while self-excluding. Usually, players registered with GamStop are unable to bet on the hundreds of sites using this scheme. Look at this list of participating companies – and keep in mind many of them own multiple betting websites. You’re unable to use any of them while self-excluding, which is a good and bad thing.
It’s good when you need time to cool off.
It’s bad when you’ve cooled off but your self-exclusion persists. You have to face a minimum 6-month ban from all bookies while self-excluding – and if you forget to cancel, it rolls over to 7 years!! Betting sites not on GamStop offer a simple and safe way of gambling while you wait for the self-exclusion to run out.
Opens the door to loads of new sites
There are plenty of betting sites registered with the self-exclusion scheme, but many more exist beyond it. Think of all the different countries you could explore when you open yourself up to sites outside GamStop:
- USA
- Australia
- Malta
- Gibraltar
- Sweden
- Curacao
- Kahnawake
- Philippines
We could extend this list forever and you’ll be treated to thousands of new websites to try. Having such a rich diversity makes your experience better than ever before. You get more sites to compare with one another and a massive choice of new welcome bonuses to take full advantage of!
Often provide larger welcome offers
Talking of welcome offers, bookmakers with no connection to GamStop are known to provide bigger and more illustrious welcome deals than those connected to the scheme.
Why? Because all of the sites on this scheme are registered in the UK and licensed by the UKGC – which has very strict requirements all betting platforms must follow. This includes not providing players with huge bonuses. Hardly any UK sites offer big welcome packages these days and you’ll usually get a £5 or £10 free bet at most.
Contrast this with other bookies around the world and you can get 100%, 150% or 200% welcome deposit bonuses. This will give you loads of extra money to wager on sports – and they usually have fairly beneficial wagering requirements too.
Improved streaming capabilities
Many punters love the sports streaming capabilities of websites not registered with GamStop. Again, it’s all down to these sites existing away from the UK, allowing them to forgo loads of annoying British laws and regulations.
That includes the laws about streaming live sports and football matches at certain times! Betting websites not on GamStop will let you watch almost every match you can think of – including those at 3 pm on a weekend. Whether you want to watch Mbappe’s first match for Real Madrid or Leicester City’s return to the Premier League, constant live streams on these platforms make it more than possible.
Access to different payment methods – like crypto
You can fund your account using a plethora of new payment methods that won’t be found on the more traditional bookmakers in the UK. The big one here is cryptocurrency; it’s a banned payment method for gambling in Britain, but you can link a crypto wallet and deposit using an assortment of coins at bookies not linked to GamStop.
The same goes for credit cards; UKGC sites ban them, but they’re free to use on other online betting sites!
Disadvantages of Joining Non-GamStop Bookmakers
All of these benefits sound amazing, but you should be aware of some clear downsides to using these types of betting sites:
Some sites are unlicensed
You’ll come across many non-GamStop bookmakers with proper overseas gambling licences. Nevertheless, we can’t deny that a lot of these operators are completely unlicensed and regulated. While this means they can give you more freedom, it also means you have no regulatory authority to contact and no guarantees of the site’s safety.
May not accept your preferred currency
If you’re joining these websites, you’re joining platforms based on loads of international territories. Some are in Europe, others are in Asia and a load of them are in Central America. Neither of these areas will use British currency – so if that’s your preferred way of gambling, you’ll have to deal with exchange rates and currency conversion fees.
Some sites will still accept GBP – and many other currencies – but it’s something to be aware of and to research before you join a site.
Could run into verification problems
There might be problems when verifying your account on sites like these if they don’t technically accept UK punters. May will accept you and the golden rule is to avoid any GamStop-free platforms you can only access with a VPN. If that’s the case, you’ll likely need a false address to join the site, which is then impossible to verify.
All betting sites will ask for KYC verification at some point and the documents include proof of identity and address. Always be sure you’re joining non-GamStop sites that truly accept UK players and let you put a UK address in when you’re signing up.
To conclude, betting sites outside GamStop offer unique experiences for punters around the world. They’re excellent if you live in the UK and are frozen on the self-exclusion scheme, waiting years for it to tick down. Similarly, if you want a new way of betting at sites you’ve never seen before, these platforms could hold the key to giving you a new gambling adventure. One last thing before we go; make sure you gamble responsibly at all times. If you ever show signs of struggling with bad gambling habits, seek help immediately by contacting BeGambleAware.
