Gamstop has been awarded the ‘Data for Good Initiative’ at the 2022 British Data Awards, in recognition of its safer gambling operations. 

The national online gambling self-exclusion scheme was recognized with the award due to its usage of data to prevent problem gamblers from continuing to access betting sites. 

A total user base of 280,000 adults across the UK currently use the self-exclusion scheme, signing up for periods of between six months, 12 months or five years. They can then choose to remove themselves from the database once their time has elapsed. 

Gamstop detailed earlier this year that it had experienced a ‘significant spike’ in registrations between 2020 and 2021, during which time the number of users increased by 28%. 

Fiona Palmer, Gamstop CEO, said: “Winning this award alongside our technology partners, The Datashed underlines our capability to use data safely and effectively to help potentially vulnerable individuals. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of this achievement and the team who have worked so hard to continuously improve the Gamstop scheme.”

Greater use of data for gambling harm prevention and responsible gambling has been endorsed by a range of industry stakeholders and authorities, including Gambling Minister Chris Philp. 

Addressing industry stakeholders at GambleAware’s annual conference in December, Philp also praised Gamstop as an example of the effective use of a Single Customer View (SCV) as a harm prevention measure. 

Regarding its recognition at the awards, Gamstop further stated that the certification ‘further validates the significant impact a data initiative like this has on potentially vulnerable people.”

Palmer concluded: “Thank you to the judges for seeing the value of the Gamstop system and congratulations to all other winners at last night’s awards.”