Estonia Weighs Forced Gambling Bans: A UK Comparison
Estonia is preparing to let family members and courts place problem gamblers on its national exclusion list without their consent, a move that would carry the country's player-protection tools beyond the voluntary-only model behind Britain's GAMSTOP.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed on August 5, 2026 that it will review the Gambling Act to change how the exclusion register is compiled, with the number of people on the self-imposed list nearing 21,000. Here is what Estonia is proposing, how its scheme works today, and how it stacks up against the United Kingdom.
What Is Estonia Proposing?
Rainer Osanik, head of the financial information policy department at the ministry, said addiction often stops people signing up themselves. "No one else can currently add them to the list, but family members of a gambling addict often suffer," he told public broadcaster ERR.
"The system should allow a person to be added to the list on certain additional grounds, either at the initiative of a family member or by court order. Estonian law does not currently allow this. We will now begin analysing how this could be done," Osanik said. The ministry expects to carry out the review in 2027, with any resulting changes taking effect around the middle of 2028.
How Estonia's Exclusion List Works Now
At present anyone who wants to restrict their own play can join the register, known in Estonian as HAMPI and held by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, but no one can be added by a relative or friend. A person is listed indefinitely and must set a period of between six months and three years before they can apply to come off. The restriction cannot be lifted early, and it does not cover instant lottery scratch cards.
The list has grown steadily. It held 17,203 people in 2023 and now covers close to 21,000, with one person able to restrict several categories at once.
| Restriction type | People (2026) |
|---|---|
| Games of chance | 20,628 |
| Sports betting | 9,767 |
| Lottery | 5,968 |
Jekaterina Nikitina, head of the excise department at the tax authority, framed the rise as a sign the safeguards are working. "The fact that the number of people who have set restrictions for themselves has increased over the years shows that people are increasingly aware of the player protection mechanisms we have," she said.
How Does It Compare With the UK's GAMSTOP?
This is where Estonia's plan stands out. GAMSTOP, the national online self-exclusion scheme that every operator licensed by the Gambling Commission must connect to, is also voluntary: a person can block their own access to British gambling sites but cannot sign up anyone else, and there is no route for a court or relative to force a registration. If Estonia proceeds, it would go further than the UK.
| Estonia (HAMPI) | UK (GAMSTOP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can add you | Yourself now; family or court proposed | Yourself only |
| Exclusion period | 6 months to 3 years | 6 months, 1 year or 5 years |
| People registered | Nearly 21,000 | More than 614,000 |
| Mandatory for licensed operators | Yes | Yes |
More than 614,000 people were signed up to GAMSTOP by mid-2026, up from about 562,000 at the end of 2025, with registrations among 16 to 24 year olds rising sharply. Estonia's proposal, if it becomes law, would add a third-party and court-ordered route that Britain's scheme does not offer.
Estonia's Gambling Market in Numbers
Estonia is a small but open market that has spent recent years courting operators rather than squeezing them. The state collected 61 million euros in gambling taxes in 2025, and cut its remote gambling tax to 5.5% from 6% at the start of 2026, on a legislated path down to 4% by 2029.
Around 50 operators hold an active licence, led by OlyBet owner OB Holding 1, whose 2025 revenue reached 45 million euros.
The direction of travel is not uniform across Europe. Denmark, for instance, has just reopened its land-based casino licensing to new operators, while France keeps its online casino market banned altogether.
Estonia sits in between: liberal on tax and licensing, but tightening the guardrails around player harm.
What Happens Next?
Estonia's own officials have already flagged the risk that a compulsory mechanism could deter voluntary sign-ups, the opposite of what a self-exclusion tool is meant to achieve. For now the ministry says only that it will begin analysing how a family-initiated or court-ordered route could work, leaving operators and treatment groups to wait for a draft.
If it lands, Estonia would become one of the first European markets to allow non-voluntary self-exclusion, a template other regulators, including the UK, will be watching closely.
Estonia Self-Exclusion: Quick FAQ
Can someone else add you to Estonia's gambling exclusion list?
Not yet. Today only the individual can add themselves to the HAMPI register. The Ministry of Finance plans to review the law so that a family member or a court could request an exclusion, with changes possible around mid-2028.
How long does an Estonian gambling exclusion last?
You must choose a period of between six months and three years. The restriction does not end automatically and you must apply separately to be removed once the period has passed.
Is Estonia's scheme stricter than the UK's GAMSTOP?
It would be if the proposal passes. GAMSTOP is voluntary only, with no route for a court or relative to enrol someone. Estonia is considering exactly that.
How many people are on Estonia's exclusion list?
Nearly 21,000, up from 17,203 in 2023. By comparison, more than 614,000 people were registered with the UK's GAMSTOP by mid-2026.
