People within the gambling industry and outside it are always looking at ways to make gambling safer for those who would be considered vulnerable.
This includes people with a history of problem gambling, or those who are beginning to show signs of problem gambling behaviour.
One of the options for people who want to stop gambling but can’t, is an app called Gamban, which blocks gambling websites for the duration of your subscription.
This company has recently announced a new partnership with online payments giant Paypal, the first choice of many gamblers when it comes to depositing and withdrawing from their bookmakers of choice.
What is Gamban?
Available on laptops, phones and tablets, Gamban is a piece of software that blocks gambling websites.
It is a paid for subscription service, costing a nominal amount per month or around £25 for the year, and once installed on your device, it cannot be uninstalled until your subscription is over.
This means that anyone using it should be absolutely certain that they don’t want to gamble on that device for the length of the subscription period, because once the padlock is closed it won’t open again.
Of course, simply buying a cheap new device or using someone else’s would get around the app, but the idea is that it helps in conjunction with other gambling tools such as Gamstop etc.
Their own statement explains it thus:
“As we’ve always said, to give yourself the best chance of successfully overcoming your addiction, you may need more than one tool. Between blocking gambling transactions at your bank and PayPal, blocking online gambling with Gamban, self-excluding yourself with GAMSTOP and seeking support from GamCare you’ll give yourself the best chance at recovery.”
It certainly takes away the convenience.
Gamban also blocks access to sites that provide FX and currency trading or crypto trading.
How are Paypal Involved?
I’ll assume you don’t need an explanation of who Paypal are.
Gamban and Paypal are working together so that transactions made through Paypal can be blocked via Gamban if the user attempts to send them to a gambling related source.
This means that if someone had tried to use Gamban but succumbed and bought a new phone, for instance; they would still not be able to deposit and wager using Paypal even if they went and bought a new phone or device.
It’s another dead end for anyone who has an addiction that is getting the better of them.
The hope is that the urge will pass since gambling is made so difficult for the person with the issue.
It’s a “welcome addition to the recovery toolkit”, and it comes just before the Government’s white paper on the 2005 Gambling act review, which is due some time after February this year.