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For players who suffer from gambling addiction, the British government introduced the GamStop program. It is an official self-excluding option that will block online casinos for participants. But for that, the company needs to collect your IP and other data. Is it safe?
A lot of British gamblers prefer to play without self-exclusion at non-GamStop casinos, and one of the reasons is data considerations.
Let’s sort this out and see if GamStop protects your information. Also, discover who has access to your data and whether GamStop is confidential.
How Does It Work?
GamStop is a national self-excluding service. You can apply if you feel any signs of irresponsible gambling and want to receive help:
- Register on the GamStop website. For that, mention your personal information. Take note that the program is only for British citizens.
- The program will collect your IP address, which is your unique address on the Internet. By collecting IP addresses, GamStop can track all of your actions.
- You will be forbidden from visiting British casinos. After registration and confirmation, your IP won’t have access to online casinos registered in the UK.
But is it only about IP? Can GamStop collect other data? That’s a question many gamblers ask.
What Data Is Collected by GamStop
First, before you decide whether you should self-exclude, you need to know that GamStop has a right to collect ANY data. It has the official status of the “Controller” given by the British government. Even if you decline cookies or somehow limit your data gathering, it doesn’t matter. GamStop can still collect all of the participants’ information. What is collected particularly?
- IP;
- Date of birth;
- Address and the place of residence;
- Mobile number;
- Email address;
- Data about our IP from gaming sites;
- Call recording.
The program can also access face recognition on your devices. All this is needed to identify you and prevent you from visiting casinos.
Can GamStop Share Your Information?
Additionally, the program can share your information. But stay calm, it is only needed to ensure better protection. GamStop can give your information to online casinos. This way, online gambling sites can identify you and block your IP. On their part, casinos cannot share your data and don’t give it to third parties.
How Does GamStop Protect Your Data?
Despite good intentions, some users find such privacy policy scary. So, is your information protected? There are several measures.
No Data Sharing
Except for online casinos, no other authorities or companies can access your information. When registering in GamStop, you receive this guarantee. Be sure your information won’t be used for marketing purposes or some other unfair goals.
Data Security Regulation
As a national organisation, GamStop follows the rules of data safety. To be precise, it works under the General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR. This law describes the rules of data storage and protection.
Suspicious Activity Report
If the program notices suspicious behaviour from your IP, it will report the case. Usually, these are situations where they identify money laundering or other criminal behaviour. So, it is another layer of protection for your profile.
Safe Encryption
GamStop uses encryption protocols to transfer your data. They help to protect data during communication and make it difficult for unauthorised parties to see it. This way, not only data storage but also data transferring is safe.
Access Controls
Only authorised users can see your data within the program. These are usually cybersecurity experts. They work on blocking your IP in online casinos and implementing other security measures, and they need access to your data. No other people can see it.
Official Security Audits
GamStop regularly organises security audits, and the best cybersecurity specialists are involved in the process. During these audits, the experts check for any data leak risks. If such a probability exists, the encryption will be updated. They also check for any leaks already.
GamStop’s status helps it maintain such security standards. Unlike non-profit organisations, it is a national company with all the permissions. This allows GamStop to conduct regular checks and organise information safely.
GamStop Overcoming: Possible Limitations and Dangers
What you should know is that GamStop is not perfect. It is a two-edged sword. First, you can easily overcome it and access casinos. At the same time, it doesn’t offer overall security for addicted gamblers. However, you should know this information and use it as you want.
The thing is that GamStop is only limited to online casinos licensed in Britain. It is a legal organisation that has access to all the local sites. But as for foreign casinos, GamStop cannot help. Thus, be attentive when choosing a gambling platform. If you are on GamStop but play in an international casino, your data won’t be protected. In fact, GamStop couldn’t even see that you gamble there.
