Poker is very popular in the UK and its popularity keeps pacing forward. In the United Kingdom, there are over 24 million gamblers, including regular poker players. Online poker in the UK holds the record for the largest poker game ever conducted. 225,000 punters played poker in a huge tournament that was held at the Isle of Mann in 2013. In 2022, poker has been rising and poker tournaments happen across Britain regularly.
The downside of this popularity is problem gambling. In a survey by GambleAware charity, it has been observed that 2.7% of adults in the UK, or 1.4 million punters, used to be problem gamblers in 2020. To manage problem gambling, they have been using self-exclusion software known as GamStop.
However, for those UK poker players who are still looking for gambling freedom, many poker sites not registered with GamStop are available as well. Many of them are listed on web resources like NonStopCasino or other similar sites. And, with each year, the number of UK players who shift towards non-GamStop sites in order to escape the self-exclusion restrictions grows every year. In this article, we will analyse some of the reasons for such popularity.
Why Do Punters Prefer Non-GamStop Poker Sites?
Poker sites that are not on GamStop are rising at a fast pace. All UKGC licensed casinos (including those hosting online poker games) must have GamStop scheme due to the regulations set by the authority. But, due to the availability of online poker rooms without GamStop restrictions, many poker fans in the UK migrate there. Why? Here are some of the major reasons.
Non GamStop Poker Rooms Have Better Bonuses
Promotions and better bonuses are another reason behind the popularity of these online poker rooms. UK casinos pay a lot of money in taxes, and due to this fact, they cannot afford offering high bonuses. Non-GamStop poker sites are registered outside of the UK, and thus they are not required to pay such huge amounts of taxes. Respectively, extra funds can be directed towards promotions and bonuses. Currently, online poker sites not under GamStop offer some of the highest possible bonuses in the gambling industry.
Poker Without GamStop Means More Freedom
Freedom is also an important factor for UK punters when they decided to shift playing at non-GamStop poker sites nowadays. Casinos of this kind are not heavily regulated or limited by the UKGC which makes them independent of intense regulations, rules, fees, fines, and so on. At the same time, non GamStop online poker sites are as legal and safe as those licensed in Great Britain and offer the same functionality. Poker punters in the UK can compete against players across Asia, Europe, Canada, South America, and so on, and do not suffer from local gambling regulations.
Poker Sites Outside GamStop Are Easily Accessible
As the popularity of non GamStop poker sites grew, so did the poker participation numbers on the internet. Over the past year, the popularity of such casinos has increased by 80%. Currently, there are multiple poker blockers and over 200,000 punters registered under GamStop alone, who tried to mitigate their problem gambling habits this way. Many of them have already recovered. At the same time, since reversing GamStop self-exclusion is impossible unless the time period of self-exclusion ends, these players have to seek alternatives.
In such cases, online poker sites that are not under GamStop registration come to the rescue. UK poker fans that are new to such casinos may be surprised to discover that they use SSL encryption to protect all forms of customer data, hold independent licenses, and offer generous bonuses. These factors contribute to the growing popularity of non GamStop poker rooms and motivate even more players to join them every year.
Conclusion
Online poker with and without GamStop feels completely different. While many UK fans of poker cannot play their favourite game because of GamStop restrictions, online poker rooms not registered under this self-exclusion scheme offer more flexibility and freedom. Players can still enjoy such poker rooms safely, use multiple bonuses, and withdraw their winnings at any point in time, although choosing a reliable casino is their responsibility.
Keep in mind that if you are a new player who does not know how to play poker and has little experience in the field of iGaming, you must definitely go through the reviews and ratings before deciding upon a non GamStop poker room. Due to these and other reasons, poker sites without GamStop have increased in numbers lately, and will likely continue to do so.
