Updated on September 3 by Ian McMillin Ad Disclaimer
If you've enrolled with Gamstop and therefore found yourself excluded from the bulk of online gambling sites, you may well be one of the many sports betting fans looking for UK betting sites that are not on Gamstop. Non Gamstop betting sites, you will be pleased to hear, offer all of the gaming fun and function you associate with Gamstop UK betting sites.
If you choose to sign up with gambling sites that are non Gamstop, you are not losing out on anything compared with Gamstop sports bet sites. What you will find is a lot of online bookmakers offering bets on your favourite sports.
To be clear, though, playing on non Gamstop betting sites is out of the question for punters who have experienced gambling addiction. It is essential, at all times, to practice responsible gambling at these online bookmakers.
List of Non Gamstop Bookies
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- List of Non Gamstop Bookies
- Why do people sign up to Gamstop?
- Why do people look for non Gamstop Betting sites?
- Safe Bookmakers not Registered with Gamstop
- Sports Betting Sites without Gamstop Breakdown
- How to open an account with Sports Betting sites not on Gamstop
- What are UK players looking for at bookies not on Gamstop?
- How does Gamstop restrict UK players?
- What is the UK Gambling Commission?
- Is it legal to bet on non Gamstop Sports betting sites?
- Good reasons to bet at a site not on Gamstop
- Reasons to stop betting at non Gamstop sites
- What kind of non Gamstop Betting sites should you look for?
- Non-negotiable elements that a non Gamstop site should have
- Placing Bets at Non Gamstop Bookies
- Ways to deposit at non Gamstop sites
- How to ensure non Gamstop UK Betting Sites are safe
- Is there an easy way to bypass Gamstop and bet online?
- Non Gamstop sites and gaming licenses
- Looking for reviews of non Gamstop betting sites
- Evaluating bonuses at Non Gamstop sites
- Conclusion
- Online Gambling sites Not on Gamstop FAQ
Why do people sign up to Gamstop?
When evaluating sites not on Gamstop, it is important to bear in mind why people sign up to Gamstop in the first place. The main reason Gamstop exists is to stop people who are problem gamblers from going to betting sites and playing casino games or making sportsbook bets, therefore aggravating their problem. Once you are signed up to Gamstop, you are automatically excluded from any site which is affiliated.
Affiliation to Gamstop requires a website to sign up to some specific restrictions. It also necessitates having a license issued by the UK Gambling Commission. Most UK betting sies are licensed by the UKGC - it processed 170 licenses in the year 2020-21 alone, which is the last year for which full statistics have been released. So there are a lot of UK bet sites that are by definition signed up to Gamstop sportsbook restrictions.
It is important to make a distinction between how Gamstop restricts sites and how it restricts players. Gamstop sports betting sites are restricted in terms of what they can offer to players, how large of a stake they can accept, and who they can allow to sign up for an account. Players, on the other hand, are simply restricted from accessing Gamstop sports betting sites - if they themselves choose to sign up to Gamstop for self-exclusion purposes. They may do this if they are among the 430,000 recognised problem gamblers in the UK - approximately 0.2% of the overall population.
Why do people look for non Gamstop Betting sites?
UK punters generally have very few options for betting providers that are not specifically signed up to Gamstop, and therefore covered by the restrictive regulations covering UK sports and casino betting. The reason that they will look for non Gamstop sports sites is that there aren't the same limitations on these sites. If you are looking for a betting site that offers better bonuses, wider options, and fewer hoops to jump through, then non Gamstop bet sites are going to be exactly what you are looking for.
The reason for seeking out non Gamstop betting sites is not just that someone has been signed up to Gamstop and wants to end their association with the site. In truth, people who sign up to Gamstop generally tend to find that it does what they wanted it to do, and people concerned about gambling problems find that 80% of the time people who sign up to Gamstop find that it helps them end their addiction. If you are concerned that you may be a problem gambler, then it is indeed a very effective tool.
Nonetheless, the blanket ban that Gamstop puts on betting for one or six months, or for five years, is seen by some players to be more than is really necessary, and that while it is easy to sign up for the longest possible period in a fit of recrimination, they feel much less certain later on and find themselves wanting to reverse the self-exclusion. Gamstop purposely makes that process difficult for users (which is a sensible step), but for those who find they do not need it, it means they need to go through a drawn-out process to end their exclusion. Or, potentially, looking instead for sites not on Gamstop.
Safe Bookmakers not Registered with Gamstop
Hustles Casino
Despite the name, Hustles Casino is not just about the casino games, you'll be pleased to know! Like an increasing number of gambling sites in the UK, it offers both casino and sports bets to its customers, making it an attractive proposition to online betting customers of all kinds.
The site is home to a wide and varied sportsbook offering sports bets on an exceptionally wide range of markets, including football, horse racing, rugby and some more esoteric options which include politics. Hustles offers everything you could wish for from an online sports betting site, plus a little bit more besides.
As far as we're concerned, this is as good as non Gamstop sportsbook betting gets. We've seen a lot of UK betting sites, from Gamstop betting sites to sites not on Gamstop, and there's nothing missing from Hustles Casino in terms of online betting options. If you've tried other UK bookmakers and found them to be disappointing, we'd certainly recommend giving Hustles Casino a go.
Like any of the best UK betting sites, Hustles Casino also offers a great casino site which features games from all the top names in the industry. On top of its non Gamstop sportsbook, there are slots and table games, with titles from Betsoft and live casino games from names such as Evolution Gaming among others. These are the developers who create games for the best online casinos including Gamstop sites
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Platinum Club Casino
Among UK betting sites, Platinum Club is definitively one of the best non Gamstop bookmakers, offering sports betting and a casino with one of the best deposit bonuses we've seen anywhere. Any player looking for non Gamstop sites that offer horse racing and rugby union betting alongside a quality casino site will be delighted with what they find here.
As you may have surmised from the name, Platinum Club offers a VIP program for people who hold a betting account there. When you sign up for the program, you'll gain online betting offers that really take the service to the next level. Every online gambling site should have offers this good: they include free bets on the sportsbook that far outstrip what we're used to from Gamstop sports betting sites.
The reason that we feel Platinum Club is one of the best betting sites not on Gamstop isn't just the free bets or the offers for UK punters, though. What we really loved about the site was its user-friendly interface. So many gambling sites seek to create something that blinds you with flashy graphics, but Platinum Club makes online betting simple, which is very welcome for anyone who's spent a lot of time checking out online bookmakers.
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Red Lion Casino
Red Lion doesn't have many sports betting options, unlike some of the non Gamstop sites we've covered here, but that's because it's a site mainly focused on casino gaming. If you want to bet on horse racing or greyhounds, you can do that, but Red Lion is one of a few non Gamstop sites which is mainly focused on slots and table games. There's no harm in that, and we're sure UK punters will love it.
There are a lot of fun games to play here, which include live casino games that come from names like Evoplay, while Betsoft and Pragmatic are among the companies providing slots. There are also a lot of less-known names in there, who make innovative games for independent betting sites. Is this the best betting site currently online? Probably not, but it's got a lot to offer and if you like to bet on horse racing, you'll love what you find here.
There's also a lot to offer in terms of deposit bonuses, with an overall package that reaches 750%, way more than we've seen on any Gamstop UK betting sites. That's probably more than you'll see on any non UK betting sites, for that matter. So there may not be much here in the way of sports betting, but we doubt anyone will mind very much. If casino games are your thing, then this is one of the best betting sites not on Gamstop.
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GodOdds Casino
God Odds is a sports betting site and casino that we consider to be among the best betting sites not on Gamstop. It offers a sportsbook as varied as any we've seen on UK sports betting sites, along with a special offer that offers a significant boost to your bankroll in the form of multiple free bets. If the sports betting element isn't enough for you, then don't worry - there's plenty to enjoy at the casino.
As far as non Gamstop bookies go, you'd be hard pushed to find a better option than this - it's one of the top betting sites we've found anywhere online, among Gamstop bookmakers and non Gamstop bookies alike. There's such a varied set of games to enjoy here, from roulette to Baccarat to the almost endless list of slot games, and this is a site that UK punters will hugely enjoy.
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Mr Sloty
Don't let the name deceive you: though it may sound like a casino focusing mainly on slots (which is most casinos, anyway), Mr Sloty is also home to an excellent sportsbook which covers a full range of sports for you to bet on. The site itself is excellent to look at, and clearly a lot of care and attention has gone into making Mr Sloty a site that anyone will be more than happy to play at. It's also an increasingly popular name in the market for both casino and sportsbook play, and it's managed all of this without being on Gamstop.
Keen casino players also won't feel let down by the selection of slots and table games for play at this site. There is a lot to enjoy here, and it's all at home on an easily navigable interface that makes Mr Sloty one of the very best sites not on Gamstop.
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MyStake
MyStake has gained itself a reputation as one of the best online betting sites anywhere, regardless of Gamstop status. For clarity, though, this is a casino and sportsbook site not on Gamstop, and it has a growing band of users who are particularly positive about its customer service record. The Live Chat function is always quick to respond and tenacious in solving any issues you may have.
As for the quality of the playing side of the site, there isn’t a single fault to find. There’s an appreciably long list of sports and markets to bet on, while the online casino is filled with great slots games and all of your table game favourites. You certainly won’t regret signing up to MyStake (you could almost say it wouldn’t be a MiStake!).
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Royal Oak Casino
Just because you are on the Gamstop scheme, that doesn't mean you have to distance yourself from the top betting sites. This is fully demonstrated by the experience you'll have at Royal Oak Casino. They're not among the gambling websites to have signed up to Gamstop, but there aren't many betting sites that offer the breadth of casino gaming options that this one has in its armoury. Among the non Gamstop UK sites, it's certainly in the top echelon.
There isn't a sports betting section at Royal Oak, although they do permit betting on horses and greyhounds. So it's not so much a non Gamstop bookmaker as it is a casino free of Gamstop restrictions. Its matched deposit non Gamstop casino bonuses are easily some of the best we've seen anywhere online. Certainly among UK sites, we've never seen such a cascade of bonus funds.
SlotsNBets
A very clear message is delivered by the name of this site. It's called SlotsNBets, and it offers slots and bets. You're not left in any doubt as to what your betting options are, and in truth this is easily one of the best sports betting sites not on Gamstop. UK punters who open a betting account here will find that there are sports betting companies who aren't on the Gamstop scheme and srill manage to deliver an exceptional quality of entertainment.
Among non Gamstop bookies, SlotsNBets has perhaps the most varied sportsbook we've seen. Most sports betting companies have a long list of sports on which you can bet, but SlotsNBets goes even further than we've seen before to deliver to UK punters a range of betting options that includes some of the more esoteric options we've seen. All without Gamstop restrictions, too.
Sports Betting Sites without Gamstop Breakdown
| 📌 Verified Non Gamstop bookies | 50+ |
| 📌 Recommended Bookmakers Not on Gamstop Sofware | 20+ |
| 📌 #1 Gambling site Not on GamStop | My. Sloty |
| 📌 New bookmakers not on gamstop | Hustles, GodOdds |
| 📌 Most popular gambling site Bonus | 100% |
| 📌 UK GamStop Self-Exclusion | No |
| 📌 UK Players allowed? | Yes |
| 📌 Editors recommendation for Betting Without Gamstop Scheme | Hustles Casino |
How to open an account with Sports Betting sites not on Gamstop
As you can see, there are a lot of reasons why people like to join betting sites that are not on Gamstop. You yourself may already be tempted to become a customer of one of the sites listed above or similar betting sites. So let’s have a look at the process for opening an account on a betting site that isn’t on Gamstop. Although sites will vary in the exact way that the process runs, these are the common points that all sites not on Gamstop will follow.
Choose a site to bet on
The first and easiest step is to simply pick a site from the long list of excellent betting sites not on Gamstop. Pick the one that sounds best to you - whether you particularly like its sportsbook selections, its offers or even just the name. We've researched all the important stuff so you simply need to head to the site and begin the process.
Acquaint yourself with the site and its Ts and Cs
You like what you've heard, now do you like what you see? That's just as important: if you're comfortable navigating the site and get a good feeling from it, you'll enjoy betting there. Also read the terms and conditions: this is an essential step, so no matter how tempted you are to skip them, do take the time to see what they say and ensure you're comfortable with it. It's easier to back out now if you aren't keen, than to leave and withdraw your money if it hasn't worked out.
Register and deposit
Registering itself should be a doddle. The site will have it all laid out for you, you just need to put the right information in the right fields. Name, address and contact details all need to be entered, and the casino may also ask you to pick a login name by which you'll be identified when using the site. Then comes depositing, which should be just as easy - enter a payment method and an amount, and then you're ready to play.
Place your bets
With your account funded and ready to use, all that now awaits you is the enjoyment of betting at a site not on Gamstop. Find the sports that interest you, and the markets within them where you are interested in placing bets, and you're on your way. If your bet should win, then it is worth checking your balance with the bookmaker to check that everything has gone as it should. Your win should be reflected in the balance of your account.
What are UK players looking for at bookies not on Gamstop?
There are countless different factors to consider when determining whether a non Gamstop site is worth your time. A lot of the decision is going to come down to your own personal opinion, of course, but for the average user there are some elements that stand out above all others, and these ones listed below are among the most consistently talked about by UK bettors:
1. Variety of sports betting options available
Online betting sites not on Gamstop aim to provide customers with as many sports and events as possible to bet on. These non Gamstop gambling sites should have a wide variety of sports so punters can have a greater range of options. Many sites focus on curating a sportsbook that has all of the most popular sports and the most prominent events within those sports. While this ensures a lot of customers sign up, it misses out on the customers who are interested in what some call "minority" sports - these include sports like Kabbadi and pesapallo which may be mostly played in just a few countries, but are hugely popular in those countries.
Aside from the selection of sports that the site covers, the number of markets within those sports is also a major consideration. Not everybody who likes football will want to bet on the Chilean Primera División, but those who want to should be able to, so the more ways you have of betting on your preferred sport, the better it looks for the bookmaker.
2. Betting bonuses
A major selling point of most sportsbooks not on Gamstop is that they tend to hand back more of their profits to players in the form of bonuses. For this to be beneficial to a sportsbook bettor, these bonuses do need to be usable on sporting bets, not on casino slots where they are less of a liability for the provider. Non Gamstop Punters will retain interest in a site which delivers more sports betting bonuses. This will be reflected in customers returning to the site on a consistent basis. The more they use the site, the better its reputation will be.
3. Security
Sites that are not on Gamstop need to work harder than others at showing that their reliability is unimpeachable. When part of your reputation is built on not being linked to the highly regulated oversight body, you're going to need to demonstrate that you take care of customer security and you do the right things financially.
Customers will remember the things non Gamstop bookies did that were good, and it's just as certain that they will remember all of the things that were bad. Protecting a customer's money and honouring promises such as bonus offers is essential because it is this kind of thing that will stick in their mind when they are writing their own reviews and letting other potential customers know whether the site is worth using.
4. Other games
A betting site should have more than simply a good sportsbook if it wants to attract the maximum number of customers and keep them coming back. Some players will want to divide their time at non Gamstop bookmakers between sports betting and more dedicated casino gaming. A site should ideally also be one of the casinos not on Gamstop, with poker, bingo and many other options available. The more options it has for bettors, the greater a boost that will be to its overall ratings.
How does Gamstop restrict UK players?
If you want to know why you should use non Gamstop bookies, then it is first important to know what Gamstop does when you sign up to it. Let’s look at what happens if you are signed up to Gamstop, and how it affects your ability to use sites that are affiiated to the service.
First and foremost, Gamstop is a voluntary service that you can sign up to if you are concerned about your betting. You will not be opted into it without your consent - people sign up by choice because they are concerned about how much they are gambling. You can do this by visiting its website, where you will be offered the opportunity to register by giving your name and a few other details. You will then be offered a choice of how long to exclude yourself from betting services. The minimum period on offer is six months, but you can choose to exclude yourself for one year or even five years if you feel that this is necessary.
Gamstop will then communicate your details to the betting sites that fall under its purview - which, as we have previously noted, includes every site that holds a UK Gambling Commission license. These operators will then remove your ability to play on their sites, restricting your account so that if you try to sign in and place a bet, you will not be allowed.
Gamstop states clearly on its site that you cannot remove your exclusion - so, if you contact them telling them you no longer need it, they will still keep restrictions in place. If you are two weeks into a five-year spell of self-exclusion and decide that you don’t want to be excluded anymore, you will still have to wait another 258 weeks before you will be allowed to play on any site that is affiliated to Gamstop. The service is upfront about this: many people with gambling problems will regret the decision to stop, and seek to return to betting. If Gamstop merely allowed them to break the self-exclusion, the service would not be doing its job.
Nonetheless, this can negatively impact people who have signed up to Gamstop and genuinely feel that they no longer need the service. From Gamstop’s own figures, there were more than a quarter of a million people signed up to its service as of November 202. 20% of those people who have signed up do not feel that Gamstop is helping them, which suggests that there are in the region of fifty thousand people who are self-excluded under Gamstop’s terms and no longer wish to be.
If you are signed up to Gamstop and wish to bet in the UK, you are therefore faced with a choice between waiting out the exclusion period or looking for sites that are not affiliated to Gamstop and accept UK players. This is the case even if someone signed up to the service on your behalf without your consent - because, again, once you are signed up you cannot break your period of exclusion for any reason.
Gamstop also states that their exclusion service is not 100% foolproof. It is possible that you can be signed up to the service and still be allowed to bet on affiliated sites because your exclusion has not been fully applied by all affiliated bookmakers.
One other thing to note is that Gamstop is by its nature only restrictive of online gambling. While it will stop people from signing in to a betting site to place a bet, it will not and cannot stop them from entering a brick-and-mortar betting shop on the High Street to place exactly the same bet. Even if you are banned from playing at the website of a high-profile bookie, that same bookmaker can and most likely will accept your bet if you walk in to their shops and place the bet at the counter. That’s not a criticism - Gamstop can only do so much - but it does illustrate what they can and can’t do when it comes to preventing problem gamblers from betting.
What is the UK Gambling Commission?
The UKGC was founded in 2005 as part of a wider Gambling Act that oversaw the provision of betting services in the United Kingdom. Its jurisdiction is over all forms of betting in the UK with the exception of spread betting, which remains under the purview of the Financial Conduct Authority. No betting company can operate a service within the UK without a license from the UKGC; so if a bookmaker is headquartered in the UK, it has to have a license and operate under the terms and conditions of the UKGC.
The UKGC has the power to levy fines on operators who do not operate within its regulations, and in extreme cases to withdraw a license and force the closure of a bookmaker. These regulations include the necessity for all UK-based bookmakers to sign up to Gamstop and operate its exclusion process in relation to problem gamblers.
The Commission does not have jurisdiction over gambling companies that do not have their operating infrastructure in the UK. So if a bookmaker is operating from Curacao, for example - as many do - then it does not have the ability to dictate how they operate. This allows non Gamstop bookmakers to offer betting options that are not possible within the UKGC framework.
Is it legal to bet on non Gamstop Sports betting sites?
A lot of people will be wondering whether the fact that these casinos and sites are not on Gamstop - and as a result, not licensed in the UK - means that they are illegal. It is a good question and one that is worth looking into, because there isn’t much of a benefit in online betting with a bookmaker if you are breaking the law by doing so. And it is a complicated issue, so it is worth getting to the core of why you aren’t doing anything wrong by betting on non Gamstop sites.
The key point here is that while non Gamstop gambling sites are not licensed to operate in the UK, they aren’t operating in the UK. As often as not, they are international overseas casinos under a license from that country, and do not fall under the jurisdiction of the UK Gambling Commission. They have done what they need to get a license in the country where they operate, so they aren’t operating illegally.
More to the point, regardless of their status, you are not breaking the law by using a site that doesn’t have a UK license. Even if it were not the case that these sites were operating completely legally, you would not be contravening any law by using them to bet. As long as the casino accepts you as a customer and you are able to bet there, and withdraw your winnings when you win, you’re doing nothing illegal and can continue to do exactly what you’re doing.
This is why we categorically make the point that you should always ensure that the casino you are playing at is licensed and has a good reputation among customers. As the casino is not operating in the UK, it is all the more important that it looks after UK players and makes sure they are able to play, fund their account, and withdraw any winnings. If the casino isn’t one which takes special care to ensure the well-being of its customers, then it will be trickier to have legal recourse against it should you need to recover any funds from it. So we will never recommend a non Gamstop gambling site which fails to deliver appropriate customer care.
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Good reasons to bet at a site not on Gamstop
We’ve talked about how Gamstop operates and about the legitimate reasons people have for signing up to it, as well as the reasons why Gamstop is as forceful in its regulations as it is. We’d hope you’re aware that we’re not denying Gamstop has its place, and the importance of preventing problem gambling should never be underestimated. And we want to be extremely clear that there are good and bad reasons to bypass Gamstop. A bad reason is that you recognise your gambling is a problem and have taken steps to address it, but want to undo that work.
The good reasons, though, are nothing to do with feeding a gambling addiction. They are connected, instead, to wanting to expand your choice of bookmakers beyond those that are restricted by UKGC regulations, and a few are laid out below.
You can bet using a credit card
Non Gamstop sites will allow you to use a credit card to fund your account. The process used for funding is similar to taking a cash advance on your credit card, as bookmakers will not and cannot allow people to bet on credit. If you haven’t got access at the moment to another funding method, a credit card may be your best choice for funding your betting account. Just make sure to keep up payments on your credit card so that it doesn’t become a ball and chain on you.
Bypassing limitations
UKGC regulations restrict betting companies from accepting bets over a certain amount, or from accepting deposits over a specified limit. These restrictions can prevent you from placing bets that you have spent time researching and putting together, and from operating strategies that you have in mind. Playing with a casino that isn’t on Gamstop means that you can make the bets you want, when you want to make them. You are in control of your betting, not the UKGC.
No “gubbing”
Successful bettors will be familiar with the process known as “gubbing” - when a betting site or casino prevents you from placing bets, or severely restricts what you can stake, after you have had a run of wins at their site. It can be very frustrating to lose your account just because you have won at the site more often than they’d like, but hey - it’s their site, their choice. Non-UKGC betting sites are less strict when it comes to restricting your account, so going with non Gamstop sites can free you up to enjoy more success.
No KYC process
Signing up for, and depositing in, a UK betting account can be a circuitous process that feels like an interrogation. In order to deposit money for betting, you need to upload a bunch of documents and answer some questions that can feel more than a little invasive. Under UKGC laws, Know Your Customer (KYC) restrictions are inescapable. Many people prefer to bet at sites that are not on Gamstop because it means they can avoid the need to undergo this whole process.
Reasons to stop betting at non Gamstop sites
Of course, as we have clarified, there are reasons not to bet at non Gamstop sites, and it is important to bear this in mind when you first decide to bet at them. There should always be a “way out” to anything that you enter into. There are signs to be aware of when you are betting at these sites, and being aware of those red flags is utterly essential - and it’s right and fair that we highlight these for your perusal.
No referral to Gamcare
Gamcare is a charity that assists problem gamblers in making a clean break with their problem. It works in tandem with, and is funded by, the bookmakers who are signed up to Gamstop, and you can be referred to them to get the essential help that allows people to break with their gambling problems. If you bet on a site that is not affiliated to Gamstop, it is harder to access this kind of help when you might need it.
Curacao eGaming is hard to work with
If you have had a negative experience with a bookmaker, often your first port of call will be the regulator who has issued their license. The licensing regulator has a lot of sway with a bookmaker, as they can issue fines and withdraw licenses in cases where the bookmaker has not operated in good faith or is dragging its feet. However, many people who have referred an issue to the Curacao regulator, which issues a lot of the licenses for bettig sites that are not on Gamstop, have found them to be slow, uncooperative and hard to work with. This may be tolerable for small issues, but it’s a concern in those cases where the problem need prompt, in-depth action.
You feel that your gambling has become a problem
If you’ve been betting at non Gamstop sites because you enjoy the freedoms set out above, then it naturally makes sense to maintain those freedoms. However, if you sense that you have a gambling problem, then you have to give up on non Gamstop sites. UK licensed sites can and will exclude you if you go to them with an issue related to problem gambling, and will refer you to the necessary charities - but this is not something that you can rely on when the bookmakers is based overseas. You’ll need to take action yourself, with the help of charities like Gamcare.
What kind of non Gamstop Betting sites should you look for?
The bottom line is that you want to be playing at a good gaming site or casino. What this means differs between customers, but there are more than a few signs that the casino you are playing at has a better chance of being “good”. Let’s take a look at some of the characteristics that are a sign you’re going to have a positive gaming experience.
1. The site is new
Newer casinos have a significant advantage when it comes to delivering the experience that a customer wants. They’ve seen all the other betting sites operate and seen what they do well. Perhaps more importantly, they’ve also seen the mistakes made by other betting sites, and know what to avoid in the future. New casinos are also quicker to embrace new ideas and different games. For example, the better Bitcoin casinos are leading the way on game fairness by providing Provably Fair games to their customers - so that, win or lose, you can be sure that the games are above board and legitimate.
2. There is a live casino
Live casino games are highly beneficial for players because they offer a more human face to the games you are playing. This makes it significantly easier to have confidence in a betting site, because there are a lot more people involved in making it happen. It is also difficult to run a live casino if your site isn’t operating legitimately; the top live casino operators don’t licence their games to just anybody, because they have a reputation to protect. Also, live casino games are just more enjoyable. They’re a more social experience than just playing a pixellated version of a table game, and you can enjoy interacting with other customers and the dealer.
3. The site has a mobile app
More and more of what we do as people these days is done online. From shopping to communicating and more besides, we are more than ever able to do things on the move. in the case of betting, this means increasingly placing bets, playing casino games and more through a mobile app. People want to be able to run their account from wherever they happen to be at the time. Whether you’re on a bus on your way to work, in the queue to buy groceries or lazing in your garden, a betting site with a mobile app makes it easier to do things when you want, where you want. Also, a betting site with the time and capital to create an app is one that is more likely to keep things legal and above board.
Non-negotiable elements that a non Gamstop site should have
The above elements are nice, but not essential for a non Gamstop casino to be worth your time. There are, however, some elements that we’re not prepared to let slip by when it comes to choosing online sites to recommend - simply put, we look for each of these at any online casino or betting site before we’ll even talk about it as a non Gamstop betting site on our pages. There are various reasons for this - security, enjoyment of their games, customer satisfaction with their service - and if a casino is missing any of these elements, we won’t put it in front of you for consideration.
1. A valid license
As we’ve already stated, just because a casino isn’t licensed in the UK doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a license. A casino that doesn’t have a license is not worth playing at - this means that it hasn’t gone through the process of proving its viability to a third party that can issue licenses. Therefore, the casino could, at any point, disappear and take your money with it. It doesn’t matter how much fun it is to play at, or how good the odds are - if you can’t see a license on its home page, then you shouldn’t play there, and we won’t list it among our recommended sites.
2. Reasonable odds and expansive markets
If a betting site doesn’t go to the effort of providing a wide range of sports on which to bet, then you have to wonder at what else they aren’t taking the time to do. A scrupulous betting site will do its level best to offer enough things to bet on, so that it can appeal to the widest possible range of potential customers. However, this is probably of secondary importance to the odds that it offers. We research each site’s odds on specific events and evaluate how they compare with the broad consensus. If they don’t compare favourably, we won’t recommend them.
3. Bonuses that make sense
Betting sites aren’t obligated to make bonuses available to customers, but almost all of them do, and if they don’t it puts them at a major disadvantage. Many players will be put off even signing up if a casino hasn’t gone to the effort of coming up with a bonus. But the evaulation doesn’t stop there. It is also important to look at the quality and legitimacy of a bonus before we’ll recommend it. Does it carry unrealistic wagering demands? What are the liimitations on where and how you can use it? If a site isn’t offering reasonable bonuses, we won’t include it here.
4. Banking and payment options
Sites that are licensed in the UK have some significant restrictions on payment methods you can use to fund a betting account. This is off-putting to some customers, and we agree. The wider a range of payment options a betting site has, the more likely we are to recommend it. We’ll also take into account whether a site allows payment by cryptocurrency. This is an increasingly popular way to fund betting accounts, with some sites being exclusively crypto-based.
5. Withdrawal times and ease of withdrawal
When you win money at a betting site, that money is yours by right and you should be able to access it as soon as possible. Naturally, there will be a waiting period between it being paid out by the bookmaker and ending up in your account, but that period should be as short as is feasibly possible. If you have to wait an unreasonable period of time before accessing money that you have won, then it doesn’t reflect well on a casino. Equally, you shouldn’t have to go through a drawn-out process to request a withdrawal. If accessing your winnings is slow or inconvenient, then we won’t recommend the bookmaker.
6. Usability of site
A betting site shouldn’t be difficult to use. Issues that can be problematic when it comes to site usability include slow loading times, distracting popups and graphics, and poor navigability. You should always be able to find what you are looking for on a site, and this should be possible within a few clicks. If you have to set off on a wild goose chase to find odds on the Bundesliga, that’s hugely damaging to the betting experience and will see the site being marked down by us.
7. Player experience
We don’t operate in a vacuum. We have site users and clients who are regular users of the gambling sites we talk about on here, and we hear from them on a frequent basis. If non Gamstop bookmakers fail to live up to the standards people expect, then they let us know. We won’t recommend a site if one of our users comes to us and explains a negative experience they have had with the site. We follow up on what we are told, and if we find any site wanting then we’ll cut it out of our list. The most important criterion for any online gambling site is that it should be enjoyable to play on - if it misses on this front, we won’t recommend it.
8. Customer support
Gambling sites are like any other commercial enterprise. Sometimes things will go wrong. That’s just the way life goes, and it doesn’t reflect badly on a site if they occasionally make a mistake. It is only right to give them the chance to correct that mistake. If they do this quickly and efficiently, then it actually reflects exceptionally well on them, and we take account of good customer support where we see it. The flip side of that is that if a site fails to jump into action and correct its mistakes, or makes unreasonable demands of customers with regard to correcting them, they won’t get our recommendation.
Placing Bets at Non Gamstop Bookies
The bottom line when it comes to betting sites not on Gamstop is that they should be offering you a list of options at least as extensive as those you would find on a Gamstop-compliant betting site. That includes having all of the same sports in the sportsbook, and maybe a few more given that these sites are often international in nature. Here are some of the most popular betting sports that will be carried on your chosen non Gamstop betting site:
- Football
It's hard to pin down reliable statistics, but signs show that close to half of the bets placed in the UK at any given time are on football. There are almost unlimited markets to bet on in football: you can bet on the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and also on less prominent competitions like the Northern Irish Premiership, Slovenian Prva Liga and Australian A-League. Within those competitions, you can bet on a team to win a match or a competition, on players to score goals and even on how many corners there will be - and that's very much the tip of the iceberg. - Horse racing
The primary sport of betting enthusiasts the world over, horse racing is still hugely popular with bettors in the UK and beyond. If you are looking to bet on horse races, you’ll find countless options on betting sites not on Gamstop. There are several meetings in the UK pretty much daily, and plenty more in Ireland, the USA, Australia, Japan and far more countries besides. - Tennis
Many of the most popular betting sports are the ones that happen year-round, which makes tennis a strong contender for one of the most popular sports among bettors. From the Asian circuit at the start of the year through the Australian Open, into the clay and grass court seasons including the French Open and Wimbledon, and on through the US Open into the end-of season hard-court tournaments, tennis fans can bet on tournament winners, match winners, total games or sets in a match and a whole bunch of proposition bets. Again, the range of choice for the tennis bettor is close to limitless. - eSport
Perhaps the fastest-growing betting sport in the world is competitive video gaming, more commonly known in this day and age as eSports. Dedicated arenas are being built, and filled by fans, to get the most from competitions in games such as DotA 2, CS:GO, League of Legends and more. These are perhaps the sports where it is most important that you inform yourself before you bet - unless you are a dedicated eSport fan it is all too easy to make a naive bet and lose, but if you know your stuff it's a fascinating betting market.
Ways to deposit at non Gamstop sites
Betting sites that are not on Gamstop aim to include as many payment methods as possible. This makes them available to as many people as possible, which is good for the bookmakers but also beneficial for the bettor. Unlike most UK sites, non Gamstop bookmakers do tend to accept credit cards as a means of payment, so if you tend to prefer to use your credit card for entertainment and similar purchases, there is no need to change that and use an alternative method.
How to check what you can use
Every betting site should make it clear on their front page precisely what they will accept in terms of payment methods, with a series of logos depicting everything from the type of credit card they accept to any ewallets that are compatible with their service. Just look along the list as shown on their site and then make your choice, and you can then head to the Cashier section of the website and make your deposit - without the need to go through the laborious KYC process.
How long does it take to withdraw
Different sites may have different withdrawal lead times, so it is essential to look for a guideline on the website for how quickly you can expect to see a withdrawal show up in your account. Bear in mind that international banking can take longer than within national borders, so it may be a smarter choice to use a payment method that bypasses this issue - ewallets, Paypal and cryptocurrencies can speed this process up a great deal. Sometimes, withdrawals may be instant with the right payment method, even if they are being made across borders. It is also quicker to use Ethereum or Litecoin to withdraw than to use Bitcoin, if you are a crypto customer.
One reason it is essential to keep a check on withdrawal times is that you need to know when a withdrawal has become “late”. Sometimes you will need to allow five working days or even longer depending on the method and geographical factors. Once your payment has gone beyond the necessary duration, it is important to flag it up with the bookmaker so that the issue can be remedied in a suitable way.
How to ensure non Gamstop UK Betting Sites are safe
Of course, when you start to move outside of the mainstream - which is definitively the case when you move to betting sites not on Gamstop - you do have to be all the more careful to ensure that you are dealing with legitimate operators. Although scammers are much rarer in online betting than some people would have you believe, they still do exist. Even among casinos that operate with Gamstop, 2020 saw one licence revoked by the UKGC and a further five suspended. Some caution is definitely worthwhile.
Licensing is important
A casino or sports betting site may not see fit to sign up to Gamstop and still be legitimate. The sites not on Gamstop should, however, still have valid licenses that permit them to operate as a betting provider. These licenses may come from Gibraltar, Malta or Curacao among other places, but what is most important is that the bookmakers not on Gamstop have at least done the work involved in getting a license. If there is no license, don't play!
Fair terms and conditions
Some casinos avoid Gamstop because it restricts what they can offer their customers. Others may avoid it because signing up to Gamstop invites scrutiny, and they don't want to be subject to that scrutiny. It is usually not too difficult to tell the difference between the two. A casino that wants to fly under the radar will - as above - either not have a license or will have a weak license. It will also shy away from extensive terms and conditions.
The operators of sites that are keen to avoid scrutiny will usually keep legal language on their sites to a minimum. They don't want to say anything that could put them on the defensive in court. So their terms and conditions will be limited, and will allow them a lot of wiggle room when it comes to matters like withdrawal times. If you see this kind of evasive practice being engaged in by sites not on Gamstop, then you can justifiably feel suspicious about their aims.
Customer Support
Limited intervention in your betting, when it is aimed to give you more freedom as a customer, is completely legitimate. In fact, as we've discussed, it is preferable, and is why many people prefer bookmakers not on Gamstop. Limited intervention is not legitimate and not desirable when it comes to finding solutions for issues you have experienced while betting.
Sites like Fortune Clock sportsbook and several other bookmakers not on Gamstop take care to ensure that they offer a high-quality customer support service that concentrates on resolving your issue speedily and to your satisfaction. If a bookmaker does not offer this level of customer support, then it is legitimate to be very suspicious about them. If they are slow to address your issues, or expect unreasonable efforts on your part before engaging with your complaint, then they're probably not going to be satisfactory to deal with in the long term, and should be avoided.
Is there an easy way to bypass Gamstop and bet online?
You won't have to look very far and wide to find Sportsbook sites not on Gamstop - a lot of sites available to UK punters do not sign up to the program. But as we have said, there are good and bad sites among this number, and it isn't easy to filter out the ones that are bad. In short, you would be best advised to stick with the sites recommended in this article. These have been vetted not only by ourselves but by thousands of other players. The proof of their quality is in the fact that people play there and enjoy playing there.
We've reviewed the best sites and bookmakers not on Gamstop and we're clear about the fact that we won't include or recommend any sites that operate in a way which is detrimental to your enjoyment of betting. You have a choice of betting sites and casinos to use, and we will guide you to make the choices that allow you to bet safely, smartly and enjoyably. Betting with sites not on Gamstop doesn't mean you need to operate without support and guidance, and it is our mission to make sure you get the most from your betting endeavours.
Non Gamstop sites and gaming licenses
Any casino or betting site with a license is required to display that license on their main site, below the main body of the betting site. Often, with a non Gamstop casino, this will be a Curacao or GIbraltar license. However, these are not the only options.
Canadian bookmakers will get their licences from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission while many sites will get their license from the highly respected Malta Gaming Authority. As a result, they are now able to work with gamers in the United Kingdom.
The location of the online bookie site will determine the licenses. Each sports site, regardless of where it is based, must obtain a license in order to provide online gambling to customers. If they do not comply, they will be considered illegal. There will usually be good reason for this, as any casino which has avoided the necessity to obtain a license to operate must be considered a possible fraud risk.
Looking for reviews of non Gamstop betting sites
It is a wise move to look out for reviews of any site you are planning to sign up to. While licenses and other paperwork can give you a lot of guidance on where you should be signing up, there really is no better method of understanding how a casino works and what its pros and cons are than reading the opinions of players like yourself. These reviews come from people who have taken the effort to sign up and test out what the casino does for themselves - and they will usually give you a very firm idea of what you can expect if you sign up to the site.
Take care to read as many reviews as you can before making a final decision, because one person’s experience does not necessarily stand for everyone. If you read a lot of reviews and see the same points being made, this is a good sign of a general consensus for that site, and one which you can trust when it comes to making your own decision. Remember, there are plenty of sites out there, and if the reviews for one are off-putting to you, there are other places that you can go.
Pay special attention to points in the reviews about things like depositing and withdrawing, customer support, and site usability. While things like the quality of a game or the breadth of the sportsbook are often a matter of taste, you should take it as a concern if more than one review flames the bookmaker for failing to provide adequate support or extremely slow loading times. What you are looking for more than anything is a pattern of good or bad practice from the casino.
Evaluating bonuses at Non Gamstop sites
It will almost certainly be the case that a non Gamstop betting site will have promotional offers for you to sign up to. It’s not the end of the world if they don’t, but it is expected that they will. This can be the difference between you signing up for a casino and not doing so. When you are making this decision, it’s worth looking at how much you can get, how much you need to put up in order to get it, and whether you will then need to wager the bonus amount multiple times in order to be able to withdraw it.
Wagering requirements are common at casinos, including those which offer a no deposit bonus not on Gamstop, as well as those that offer a significant percentage of matched deposit such as 300% of every deposit up to £100. The more times they expect you to wager your bonus, the less likely it is that there will be any of it left at the end of wagering. This doesn’t make the bonus bad, per se, but it does make it less lucrative.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an online gambling site worth playing at, then it may be a good idea to consider sites that aren’t on Gamstop. There are definite things you need to bear in mind, such as the overall reputation of the casino, the license that it operates under, and whether it makes a point of looking after its customers.
Do remember that Gamstop exists for a reason, and that it should not be considered as a way to escape the consequences of a gambling problem. There are plenty of good reasons to pick a betting site not on Gamstop, and hopefully we have illustrated a few of those for you.
Online Gambling sites Not on Gamstop FAQ
Q: How should UK gamblers choose betting sites not on Gamstop?
In the end, it is a matter of personal taste - what someone else likes may not be what you like. It is important, though, to have some red lines, and these will include sites that don’t pay out on time, those that don’t take complaints seriously, or those which are evasive when it comes to licensing questions.
Q: Is it safe to bet on betting sites not on GamStop?
Gamstop status is not a defining factor in choosing an online betting site. For sure, a site being on Gamstop does mean that it has a UK license. But the more pertinent question is whether a site has a license. If it does, then it should be safe to bet there. If it doesn’t, then under no circumstances should you sign up. Whatever story they may spin to justify the lack of a license, it doesn’t make up for them not taking the steps necessary to protect customers.
Q: Is there a way to find out which sites are on Gamstop?
Gamstop carries on it own website a list of all the gambling companies who are affiliated to the program. In most cases, it will also name the sites run by those companies, if the names differ between the two. If you are signed up to Gamstop, sometimes the quickest way to find out which sites are covered is simply to ask - as a member, you're fully within your rights to check if a certain site is on their list. Additionally, if you want to know whether or not a site is on Gamstop, check this site, which has a list of the best sites not on Gamstop.
Q: Are the games on non Gamstop casinos legitimate?
Any online casino that has gone through the process of getting a license has had to prove that their games are controlled by Random Number Generation. This means that the result of any spin, or any hand, at the casino you are playing at will have been reached by fair means. As annoying as a losing streak may be, if it happens at a licensed casino, it is a legitimate losing streak. This is another reason to ensure that you bet at a casino with a license - unlicensed sites have not gone to the lengths of proving their legitimacy
Q: Are all UK bookmakers from the United Kingdom on Gamstop?
Yes, if they have a license. They ae required to sign up to Gamstop before they can be issued with a license. If you are betting with a UK bookmaker and it is not on Gamstop, then you are betting with an unlicensed bookmaker, and you should stop.
Q: Is it legal to join betting sites not signed up with GamStop?
The short answer is yes. You’re not breaking any laws by using a non Gamstop betting site. However, you do need to bear in mind that this does not make it legal to bet at a non Gamstop betting site under circumstances where it would not be legal to bet overall. If you are in a country where betting is banned entirely, then it’s not legal to sign up to any betting site, no matter where you usually live..
Q: Are there any UK-licensed betting sites not on Gamstop?
In order to get a license from the UKGC, you must sign up to Gamstop, so the answer is "no". Regrettably, any sites not on Gamstop are not going to be able to get a UK license. This doesn't mean they can't get a license from elsewhere, though, which makes it doubly essential that when you ick a site not on Gamstop, you make sure to pick one that is licensed.
Q: What bookies are not on Gamstop?
There is a long list of bookies that are not on Gamstop; only the sites that are based in the UK and licensed by the UKGC are actually on Gamstop. The rest are all not on Gamstop. The quicker question to answer is “which non Gamstop sites should I bet on”. The answer is to look at all the sites highlighted on this website. Among those sites are Fortune Clock Sportsbook, Hustles Casino, Jackpot Charm Sportsbook, Red Lion and many others.
