In recent news, GamCare, a British gambling support charity, has called on banks to support their efforts and raise more awareness with regards to gambling blocks, which could prove effective especially when combined with other responsible gaming tools.
Of course, on the edge of this double-edged sword there’s always the fact that players will always seek online gambling real money no deposit casinos. The challenge begins when they lack self-awareness and fail to realize when it is time to self-exclude. By means of these gambling blocks, there is a higher guarantee of safer and more responsible gambling, and lower risk of any harmful or addictive tendencies.
Gambling Blocks Explained
Right, let’s kick off right at the very beginning by pinning down the basics. A gambling block is essentially designed to stop all transactions whenever a player appears to be at financial risk. These free tools offered by most banks in the UK have been designed to offer additional control over gambling habits and apply to both online and physical casinos.
This tool allows you to slow down your gambling while also proving useful when used along with other responsible gaming recovery methods that include self-exclusion programs and gambling blocking software. These blocks apply to debit cards, and you’ll need to set one up for each card by getting in touch with your bank. There’s also the option of setting a gambling block on your mobile banking app for additional security.
A Call for Awareness
Because different banks operate on their own terms, there have been cases where these gambling blocks have been referred to using other terms such as ‘gambling restrictions’, ‘card control’, and even ‘card freezes’ amongst others, creating confusion amongst users. For this reason, GamCare is currently proposing adopting a consistent name across the board, along with increased accessibility in order to add further protection to vulnerable players.
Gambling Blocks Cool Off Periods
Should you ever decide to deactivate your gambling block, banks will enforce a cool off period between 48 and 72 hours before being in a position to authorize any new transactions related to gambling. Because gambling is known to be impulsive, this extra step ensures an additional buffer which might give you the time you need to reflect on your decision.
If you’re concerned about your own or someone else’s gambling habits, then there are a number of other support agencies in place, such as BeGambleAware or Gambling Therapy, that are completely free.
