Kingston upon Hull leads GAMSTOP registrations as football clubs take the self-exclusion message to more than 1.7 million fans
Ten football clubs supported GAMSTOP’s fifth annual Self-Exclusion Day, using their social media channels to raise awareness of the free gambling self-exclusion service among supporters across the UK.
Established in 2022, the campaign encourages people concerned about their gambling to consider taking a break. This year, participating clubs published 16 posts across Instagram and X, reaching a combined audience of more than 1.7 million followers and generating 412 engagements.
The campaign was supported by AFC Wimbledon, Bolton Wanderers, Crewe Alexandra, Plymouth Argyle, Port Vale, Queens Park Rangers, The New Saints, New Saints Women, Tranmere Rovers and Walsall.
Kingston upon Hull records highest rate
Regional data released alongside the campaign identified the ten UK areas with the highest proportion of residents registered with GAMSTOP.
Kingston upon Hull topped the table, with registrations equivalent to 2.8% of the local population. GAMSTOP said several communities with strong football traditions also appeared among the areas recording the highest rates.
The figures offer a geographical snapshot of demand for self-exclusion. GAMSTOP enables users to restrict access to gambling websites and apps operated by businesses licensed in Great Britain for a selected period.
Registrations rise after major football matches
GAMSTOP also examined registration patterns during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Registrations generally declined while England were playing before increasing following matches, with the most noticeable rises frequently occurring on the next working day.
Comparable patterns were identified around previous international tournaments. Registrations tended to fall on the days of major fixtures and finals before rebounding afterwards, particularly around England games.
The data indicates an association between major football matches and the timing of self-exclusion decisions, although it does not establish that the fixtures directly caused those changes.
Matt Burgiss, Head of External Affairs at GAMSTOP
“Our regional data shows that people are turning to self-exclusion in communities right across the country. It is particularly interesting to see many areas with strong footballing identities towards the top of the table.
“We know that football and gambling remain closely connected for many fans, and our World Cup data shows just how clearly major matches can influence when people decide to self-exclude. Registrations tend to fall when England are playing before rising again afterwards, when some people may be reflecting on their gambling and deciding that they need to make a change.
“That is why the support of football clubs on Self-Exclusion Day is so important. By taking this message directly to supporters, clubs can help make people aware that self-exclusion is available if gambling is becoming difficult to control.”
