GamCare says knowledge of gambling blocks benefits customers

GamCare, the leading organizaiton that provides support for the victims of problem gambling and is one of the leading charities in the United Kingdom, has published new insights that are part of its Gambling Related Financial Harm Program (GRFH).

The charity has been working actively with various experts from the industry to try and impress best practices not just on industry stakeholders, but also third parties, such as banks, that may be involved in and can help with the process of making gambling safer.

During the latest virtual workshop hosted under the GRFH initiative, the charity said that banks can be doing much more to help promote their free blocking tools that will effectively prohibit customers from making payments to gambling websites. These tools are effective, as attested by lived experiences and evidence.

One person, Jonathan, was asked to share his experience with how he has been able to move past his gambling addiction and remain on a steady course of recovery by utilizing blocking tools that have allowed him to stay at arm’s length from gambling.

"The gambling block offered by my bank has been a key pillar in my recovery, but more publicity is needed to raise awareness of bankgamblingblocks, especially amongst those struggling with their gambling," Jonathan said.

GamCare stressed that it’s important for financial services – such as banks – to promote through various media campaigns and channels that gambling blocks exist. They should be easy to reach and made more prominent, helping consumers take preemptive measures with regard to their gambling habits.

One of the issues highlighted by Deelan Maru, from the Behavioral Insights Team, was that there were discrepancies between the different banking apps offered by different financial institutions. Essentially, the blocking features may have names that are not an exact match, part of a bank’s branding attempt – which is understandable.

However, Maru said that a standardized blocking app would make it much easier to amplify the message that such tools exist and for consumers to find them. There are other areas of interest to address.

For example, many consumers are worried about activating and deactivating the measures, as they think that they would not be able to revert once they do. This is why banks should do a better job explaining what needs to be done next, how, and why.

Another matter is that these tools are usually searched for by consumers that are already experiencing problems rather than those who are worried about not spending too much or developing a problem – this too can be something that could be improved on.

Image credit: GamCare