Online National Lottery draw games remain outside GamStop, even though the scheme blocks access to most licensed online gambling services.

Bedfordshire and Luton Senior Coroner Emma Whitting raised the concern after a July 2026 inquest linked gambling harm to the death of a 54-year-old Bedfordshire man.

Whitting issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report on October 12, 2026. It warns that people registered with GamStop can still access online National Lottery draw products unless they complete a separate self-exclusion process with the lottery operator.

Leigh Day reported the coroner's concerns on behalf of the man's family.

GamStop currently does not automatically cover online National Lottery draw games. The Gambling Commission is reviewing whether that protection should change.

What GamStop currently covers

The Gambling Commission's published guidance says lottery operators must join GamStop when they offer online Instant Win Games. The requirement applies to those games only.

The guidance was issued on January 29, 2020, and last updated on August 11, 2021. It separates online instant-result games from online draw games, such as National Lottery draws.

As of October 13, 2026, that distinction remains in place.

The Gambling Commission's guidance explains the current position.

  • Online instant-win National Lottery games must participate in GamStop.
  • Online National Lottery draw games are outside the current multi-operator requirement.
  • Players can use a separate self-exclusion process with the National Lottery operator.
  • No extension of GamStop has taken effect.

What the inquest found

Leigh Day said the inquest took place at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner's Court on July 7, 2026.

The coroner concluded that the man's death was caused by Gambling Disorder and gambling with licensed and unlicensed operators.

His legal representatives said he registered with GamStop in 2024 but continued to gamble through unlicensed websites and National Lottery draw products.

They also said his final bank payment, made two days before his death, went to the National Lottery Draw.

The report is not a new law, licence condition or final enforcement decision. It is a formal warning asking relevant organisations to explain what they will do to reduce the risk of future deaths.

Regulator considers possible changes

The Gambling Commission told SBC News that it is working with GamStop and Allwyn Entertainment Limited, the National Lottery operator, to consider whether protections should be extended.

No decision has been made, and no rule has changed.

The Commission also told SBC News that National Lottery draw games are generally lower risk than many other gambling products.

It pointed to a separate self-exclusion option for online National Lottery games. It also said Allwyn has introduced monitoring for draw-based games, deposit and spending limits, and daily play caps.

SBC News reported the regulator's position and Allwyn's safeguards.

Leigh Day said the Commission has begun a discovery phase expected to last up to 12 months before deciding what action, if any, to take.

GamStop confirmed that regulatory decisions belong to the Gambling Commission. It said it is working with the regulator and Allwyn.

Why the distinction matters

GamStop is designed as a multi-operator barrier. A person who self-excludes should not have to identify every separate licensed gambling service that might still accept their play.

The National Lottery operates under its own statutory licensing framework. The Gambling Commission granted Allwyn a 10-year licence beginning in February 2024 and running until January 2034.

The Commission's licence guide says the licence covers both draw-based games and interactive instant-win games. Current GamStop guidance treats those products differently.

The practical consequence is clear: registering with GamStop does not currently create one automatic block across every online National Lottery product.

The next step is regulatory. The Commission must decide whether the existing split provides enough protection and whether any change would require revised licence arrangements, new technical integration or wider policy action.