Gambling is an activity enjoyed and practised throughout the world. But until very recently, the only way to enjoy it was to attend brick-and-mortar casinos. However, the newest technological advancements have allowed billions of people to continuously enjoy their favourite, so long as they hold a device with internet access. Unfortunately, the rise of online gambling has also led to serious problems regarding game addiction amongst the world population. This is partly due to how much easier it is to gain access to gambling environments than ever before, including in the United Kingdom. To combat this issue, the UKGC (UK Gambling Commission) developed a free self-exclusion program called Gamstop, designed to counter this issue.
Furthermore, all officially regulated and licenced online casino operators in the UK must subscribe to the Gamstop self-exclusion scheme for a fee. However, that does not mean that the UKGC manages all online gambling services, and the fact is that there are new online casinos not on Gamstop that are perfectly legal to use in the UK due to them having offshore gambling licenses.
Regarding the main question posed in this article, casinos that accept bitcoin or any other kind of cryptocurrency are not enrolled with Gamstop. This is because bitcoin casinos are licenced in a foreign jurisdiction and have no legal ties to Gamstop. Also, the UK government seems unsure on how to best regulate the use of cryptocurrencies and has made no declaration on permitting crypto in their licenced online casinos.
However, this begs a new set of questions: Why is crypto such a requested and desirable payment method for so many people? Why are there people reluctant to use non-Gamstop online casinos?
Why do people turn to non-Gamstop alternatives?
Before touching on the subject of why people seem to prefer using non-Gamstop online casinos, it is important to learn what Gamstop actually is.
Gamstop is a free self-exclusion tool used in the UK and Northern Ireland whose main purpose of providing users with the option of regulating their online gambling time. Once registered on Gamstop, the user can exclude themselves from accessing online gaming sites in the UK for a period ranging from 6 months to 5 years. Only once the selected time period has expired can the user regain access to Gamstop-licensed online gambling content. The truth is that although a well-intentioned effort, Gamstop-services ultimately restrict users’ freedom to decide whether they change their minds regarding Gamstop. Once a self-exclusion timer has been selected, there is no option for the user to change their mind, limiting the user from their freedom to decide how much they wish to play.
Gamstop bans and self-exclusion are non-viable solutions as they do nothing to resolve players’ self-control problems. They are merely restricting the user from using online services rather than addressing the risks of addiction. They are side-tracked and ignored.
Having said all this, one might wonder what draws people into non-Gamstop online services. First of all, non-Gamstop casinos offer a series of gaming benefits such as welcome bonuses, prizes, lucrative rewards and loyalty programs that are absent in Gamstop casinos, unfortunately. Also, it is worth pointing out that non-Gamstop casinos are not illegal in the UK as long as they are properly licenced.
Many punters also find non-Gamstop gambling services to be much less restrictive and strict regarding the need to adhere to the rules. If Gamstop suspends a user’s account, they cannot access any other Gamstop-regulated website. This is not an issue that concerns non-Gamstop users as they can just simply make a new account. Also, there are far fewer regulation protocols as no ID-verification checks are required in non-Gamstop sites.
Finally, money deposit options in non-Gamstop betting sites are much more open. Most of them allow the use of different types of payment such as crypto, debit cards and e-wallets.
Benefits of Crypto in Online Gambling
People find cryptocurrency and bitcoin to have a series of major advantages that make them more desirable to use than other forms of currency.
The main advantage that draws people into cryptocurrency is that through them, full anonymity is assured. All kinds of transactions and deposits are hidden, and no one can gain access to them. The crypto user is completely invisible, and it is impossible for outside agents to gain access to their personal information.
Cryptos also allow the user to skip any kind of verification process that might require them to share personal documents and information such as their address, phone number, bank account or card number. Not only is this a long and tedious prospect by some, it can also leave your personal information at the mercy of hackers. Crypto completely offers anonymity and no way for trackers to get hold of any personal information.
Many non-Gamstop casinos try to incentivize the use of crypto by offering users very enticing and attractive bonuses for those who make crypto deposits. However, ordinary casinos will offer much less appealing offers in comparison.
Finally, using cryptocurrencies is extremely affordable as there are generally no fees involved and if there are any, they are very small. Also, the fees required to withdraw money with crypto are very small. This is another aspect highly appreciated as it allows punters to have more money available. Transactions through crypto are also extremely fast in comparison, and you can get your withdrawn money in mere moments.
What to look for in a reliable non-Gamstop Casino
One final aspect we should account for is that when selecting a non-Gamstop gaming website, there are certain aspects we must always take into account. This is necessary to ensure we are playing with reliable and safe providers. Also, make sure that you play online casinos mainly to have fun, not as a source of income or to combat depression.
Always look for casinos with:
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Good reputation
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Licenses and certificates covered independent auditors
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Make use of high-quality software
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Have good speed for any kind of financial transaction
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Provide fast support service
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Follow compliances with the policy of responsible gaming
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Have positive customer reviews
