After registering with GamStop, you cannot gamble on Paddy Power’s UK-licensed platforms, but technical and regulatory gaps exist that some users exploit.
What is GamStop and How Does it Work?
GamStop is the UK’s national self-exclusion scheme that prevents access to all UK-licensed online gambling operators, including Paddy Power. Users register once and receive automatic blocking across 250+ gambling websites and apps.
Exclusion Period Options
- 6 months – Minimum period, no early removal
- 1 year – Standard option for moderate concerns
- 5 years – Maximum period, most popular choice (48% of users)
Is Paddy Power on GamStop?
Paddy Power was forced to join GamStop on March 31st, 2020, when the UK gambling watchdog made it mandatory for every licensed betting company to join or lose their license to operate. This wasn’t their choice – it came from a specific rule called License Condition 3.5.5 that requires all UK-licensed gambling operators to participate in the national self-exclusion scheme. Since Paddy Power is owned by a big company called Flutter Entertainment, this rule also covers their other brands like Betfair and Sky Bet, meaning you’re blocked from all of them if you sign up for GamStop.
What Paddy Power Services Are Blocked?
Fully Covered Platforms
- ✅ Paddy Power Sports (website and mobile app)
- ✅ Paddy Power Casino games
- ✅ Paddy Power Poker
- ✅ Paddy Power Bingo
- ✅ Virtual sports betting
- ✅ Daily fantasy sports
- ✅ Live dealer games
Not Covered by GamStop
- ❌ Paddy Power Ireland website (paddypower.ie)
- ❌ Physical betting shops
- ❌ Offshore gambling sites
- ❌ International Flutter Entertainment sites
How the System Works
When you try to log into Paddy Power or create a new account, their system immediately contacts GamStop’s database to check if you’re on the blocked list. The system then uses smart matching technology to compare five pieces of your personal information against their records, looking for any matches even if there are small differences in spelling or details. This entire checking process happens incredibly fast – in less than a third of a second – before the system either lets you in or blocks your access with an error message explaining why you can’t use the site.
Matching Algorithm Details
The system uses intelligent fuzzy matching to identify users even with:
- Name spelling variations
- Address changes
- Email updates
- Minor data discrepancies
- Typos in personal information
What Happens When You Try to Use Paddy Power After Joining GamStop?
You Get Blocked Immediately
When you try to log into Paddy Power after signing up for GamStop, the website checks your details instantly and blocks you. You’ll see an error message saying “Account access suspended” and get an email explaining why you can’t get in. The system also stops you from creating new accounts with the same personal details, so you can’t just sign up again with a different username.
If you already had money in your Paddy Power account before joining GamStop, don’t worry – they’ll send it back to your bank card or whatever payment method you used. If you had any bets that hadn’t finished yet, those will still be settled normally before your account gets suspended. Your account doesn’t disappear completely – it just gets put into storage in case you ever want to come back after your GamStop period ends.
Customer Service Can’t Help You Get Back In
If you call or message Paddy Power’s customer service asking to get your account back, they can’t help you. It doesn’t matter what reason you give them – they’re not allowed to override GamStop blocks under any circumstances. The staff are trained to understand this and won’t try to find workarounds for you.
Instead, they’ll try to help by giving you information about organizations that support people with gambling problems. They’ll tell you about GamCare, which offers free counseling and advice. They might also mention Gambling Therapy, which has online support groups, and BeGambleAware, which has tools to help you understand your gambling habits. Even if you ask to speak to a manager, the answer will still be no – GamStop blocks can’t be removed by anyone at Paddy Power.
How Some People Try to Get Around GamStop on Paddy Power
Despite the system being quite sophisticated, about 1 in 3 people who sign up for GamStop still try to find ways to gamble during their blocked period, and about 1 in 10 actually succeed.
Some people attempt to trick the system by using slightly different personal details when signing up, like changing their middle name or using an old address, but this breaks the website’s terms and conditions and they risk losing any money they deposit if they get caught.
Others ask family members or friends to open gambling accounts for them, which puts both people at risk of getting in trouble with the gambling site and potentially the law.
The most common and successful workaround is using foreign gambling websites that don’t have to follow UK rules – these sites operate from countries like Gibraltar, Malta, or other places outside UK jurisdiction and aren’t required to check the GamStop database. Anonymous Casino has been especially popular among UK Paddy Power users lately due to its instant withdrawal processing and complete absence of verification requirements.
People also discover they can still access the Irish version of Paddy Power’s website because it operates under Irish gambling laws rather than UK ones, creating a significant loophole in the system.
Real User Experience
One Reddit user shared a story that shows how GamStop’s protection can sometimes fail in practice. This person had signed up for GamStop in 2020 for a 5-year period, meaning they should have been completely blocked from all UK gambling sites including Paddy Power. However, in June 2023, they discovered that over £3,000 had been deposited from their bank account to Paddy Power between November 2022 and May 2023 – well within their GamStop exclusion period.
When they tried to get their money back, both their bank and Paddy Power refused to help. Their bank rejected their fraud claim even though they provided proof of their GamStop registration, and Paddy Power’s customer service kept saying they were “looking into it” for six months without any resolution.
Other users pointed out that while GamStop is designed to prevent this, determined people can sometimes find workarounds by using slightly different personal details or having someone else open an account for them.
Paddy Power Fined for Sending Betting Ads to the Wrong People
In November 2021, Paddy Power made a serious mistake that cost them £490,000 in fines. Due to what they called “human error,” they sent a promotional push notification to customers who had signed up for GamStop, advertising bets on a Tottenham vs Leeds United football match. This was exactly the kind of marketing they’re banned from doing – gambling companies are supposed to remove GamStop users from their marketing lists within two days of them signing up for self-exclusion.
The notification went specifically to customers with Apple devices who had excluded themselves from gambling. Paddy Power initially tried to appeal against an even higher penalty, but eventually agreed to pay the £490,000 fine and hire an independent company to audit their marketing processes. The company apologized and said they fixed the problem immediately when they discovered it.
