The number of online casinos in the UK not under the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) keeps increasing. For some reason, these non-Gamstop platforms appear more exciting and indulging than the UKGC platforms.
Players will discover the most generous slots, immersive games, and diverse payment methods on these non-Gamstop casinos, i.e. spicy jackpots. However, one must understand the underlying risks beneath the glamour on these platforms to keep on the safe path. Read more about these risks in this review.
Risks Associated with Non-Gamstop Casinos
These non-Gamstop platforms do have their appeal in terms of native characteristics, thanks to the freedom they have to spread their wings on innovative grounds. However, do these lack of constraints work in favour of players most of the time? Maybe not. See the following sections for the risks you will be exposed to on non-GamStop casinos.
Non-Gamstop Casinos Abiding to Regulations
UKGC casinos have no choice but to obey the rules and regulations of their licensing authorities. These websites, unlike non-Gamstop ones, are under constant monitoring by the UKGC authority. So, if they refuse to abide by a policy or fail to enforce certain security protocols, they will be caught.
Being caught in the act will lead to them facing legal repercussions, which will most likely result in them paying hefty fines. The rule remains that even the non-Gamstop platforms have to abide by the rules of their present jurisdictions. However, this is not often the case with these casino websites.
Non-GamStop Licensing and Licensing Authorities
Many casinos in the UK operate under the watchful eyes of the UKGC. However, those that do not answer to this authority do not have to obey its regulations. Nevertheless, based on the norm, non-Gamstop casinos must have a licence from a foreign body, which is most likely from another jurisdiction.
Unfortunately, these non-Gamstop casinos often fail to associate with reputable licensing authorities, while some fail to associate with any. Several of these casinos are parading fake or non-existing licences, too. So, players must look into these non-Gamstop casinos’ licensing situation and confirm they are legit before playing there.
Responsible Gambling Measures on Non-GamStop Casinos
You can activate self-exclusion periods on Gamstop casinos and some non-Gamstop ones. However, the coverage of these self-exclusion tools differs. If you trigger a Gamstop self-exclusion period, you will be unable to play at all casinos affiliated with the UKGC. However, the non-Gamstop self-exclusion periods are often peculiar to the platform on which it was triggered.
UKGC casinos tend to offer diverse responsible gambling tools like deposit limits, time-outs, and cool-off periods. Unfortunately, you may discover most non-Gamstop casinos to be lacking measures like these for promoting responsible gambling.
Non-GamStop Advertisement and Media Control
The non-Gamstop platforms have today weaponized the Internet, thus lying to prospective players to get them on their platforms. UKGC casinos, on the other hand, are under the strict and watchful eyes of their licensing authority, thus ensuring all they advertise about their casinos are legit.
There have been multiple cases whereby the UKGC fined some casinos registered under it hefty sums because of false advertisements and lack of media control. So UKGC casinos are held to a higher standard than non-Gamstop casinos, with no affiliations to the UKGC.
Non-GamStop Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
The one reason for UKGC casinos not offering a long list of payment methods is to avoid security complications during transactions. The authorities and their casinos do well in narrowing the available payment methods in the UK to the best few, so players rarely have issues with payments.
Also, reporting payment-related issues on Gamstop casinos to the UKGC is much easier. Unfortunately, since most non-Gamstop casinos are not affiliated with proper authority, losing money to these platforms during transactions is very easy. Since no authority holds them accountable, the funds may be gone forever.
Support Services on Non-GamStop Casinos
It is a necessary criterion for UKGC and Gamstop casinos to have responsive and multiple customer support service options. However, the non-Gamstop casinos are under no obligation to provide as little as an FAQ section. So, if an issue is pressing, there is often no way to report it. Also, taking the matters to their licensing bodies will be futile because most platforms fake their licensing information.
Conclusion
There are advantages to playing on non-Gamstop casinos, including having access to many bonuses, diverse games, and payment methods.
As exciting as these opportunities are, there are many risks that come with them. You will be less safe on these platforms, with almost no responsible tools available to curb bad gambling habits. So, be sure that the non-Gamstop casino you are playing on answers to a reputable authority to guarantee your safety.
