GAMCARE, GAMBAN, & GAMSTOP TEAM UP TO LAUNCH ‘TALKBANSTOP’ SCHEME

GamCare, Gamban, and Gamstop have teamed up to launch the TalkBanStop scheme. 

A 12-month pilot project, TalkBanStop will be promoting three tools to help problem gamblers kick their addiction. The tools are GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline, Gamban’s gambling blocking software, and Gamstop’s self-exclusion scheme. 

Anyone contacting the helpline will be offered Gamban’s software for free, and will be told how they can block access to all UK-licensed online operators by signing up to Gamstop’s self-exclusion scheme. 

The scheme is being funded by the UK Gambling Commission, and market research company Ipsos MORI have been contracted to perform an evaluation after the pilot concludes. 

Commenting on the project GamCare CEO, Anna Hemmings, said:

“After a particularly challenging year when many have been impacted by job losses and reduced income, Christmas can be a difficult time for those struggling to stop gambling.

“The TalkBanStop. campaign sends a message of hope to those who are struggling with gambling but don’t know how to start their recovery journey, by providing free tools and support that give breathing space to reflect on what’s going on.”

While Gambling Commission CEO, Neil McArthur, added:

“We are happy to approve funding of the blocking software pilot and evaluation element of this work through the distribution of regulatory settlement money to properly identify what works.”

Staying with Gamban, as reported yesterday, Norewegian state-owned gambling operator, Norsk Tipping, has partnered with the organisation to make its self-exclusion software available for free to all Norwegian gamblers. 

AYO.NEWS says:

As we’ve said many times here at AYO.NEWS, the key to addressing problem gambling is effective education and providing free, effective and easy-to-use tools – something this initiative is aiming to do. So, it’s great to see the UKGC is allocating funding to it, and we’re sure it will make a difference.

A word of caution though. Regardless of new schemes and initiatives, ss we go into 2021, and the full scale of the economic and social crisis inflicted on populations by the misguided (and some would argue, criminal) actions of governments in response to the over-hyped COVID-19 crisis becomes clear, we may well see a significant rise in all sorts of problem behaviours. And, unfortunately, many politicians will be only too happy to use the gambling industry, and other sectors, as scapegoats to distract from their own failings. 

Remember, correlation does not imply causation. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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