Overseas online sites

In addiiton if you have concerns about the regulation of the gambling account you have recently tried to close and the operator is a UK buisness. We would encoruage you to consider contacting the Gambling Comission who are the regulatory body of the gambling industry in the UK. www.Gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Warm regards, 

Helen 

Forum Admin. 

@862cfsbuxp I had the same experience.  Gamstop finally seemed to work but in desperation to gamble I went to non UK sites.

Disaster!

They accept Credit Cards.  So when I deposited I lost on the cash advance fee, high interest and currency conversion.  Then when I did win some would put very aggressive T&Cs so you would forfeit the winnings.  Withdrawals pending for over 5 working days... And that is some of the better non UK casinos!

Some use pirated software and the transactions are routed through random countries like Rwanda with dodgy transaction codes 'shoe store' was the most random.

Like you say player protection is just about non existent.  One refused to exclude me unless I phoned them, I asked for their number and they said they didn't actually have a phone number?!?

Gamban may help.  But for me the answer was getting to the route cause of the gambling and educating myself as to the effects on my brain.  This was the key for me quitting.  Now I find I actually don't want to gamble and that is far more liberating than any exclusion or block....  Though these clearly have their place.

@thebean thank you for your message, I really appreciate it. And great to read of your positive recovery and feeling. 

Agreed, I need to be accountable and use this as an opportunity to improve my understanding and emotional control over the addiction. which will ultimately help me and make me stronger in the long run and more rounded in my recovery.

but for anyone reading this, as somebody who has gone a year before without having a gamble…. to then relapse… I want them to be aware of this danger. Before my relapses were hundreds in a FOTB but with this, there is no safety net from the company, or from your bank…. Being able to deposit thousands in second and ‘bonus buys’ of unlimited amounts.

whilst I am aware that by writing about this I could be making people aware of it in their time of weakness, or planting an idea…. which is something I don’t want to do. I wish I had never come across this ‘loophole’ in the system ans I also hope somebody reads this and it gives them the awareness to not fall into this trap or let it get as bad as I did trying to beat it alone.

Today is a new day, and I feel positive moving forward ?. It’s good to be on here and not feel alone. 

@862cfsbuxp you are totally right.  It is soooo dangerous for anyone, particularly a compulsive gambler to use unregulated non UK casinos.

I am angry at the credit card companies for processing just transactions... I mean one transaction I made for a 4 figure deposit was listed as 'shoe shop' and routed through a bank in Rwanda!?! Though I have to admit in the cold light of day I am 100% responsible.

This is only going to get worse as Gamstop actually is starting to work and effectively exclude problem gamblers.  People with a big compulsion to gamble will turn to them and the results are disastrous.  If anyone is reading this contemplating using them. DON'T it will lead to traumatic loses even if you win! They don't have to pay you!

But anyway, well done with your positive steps forwards and realisations