UKGC: “NO SIGNIFICANT INCREASE” IN GAMBLING DURING COVID – BUT HSBC EXTENDS GAMBLING BLOCK

The UK Gambling Commission has published a report on how the COVID-19 crisis has affected gambling behaviour, while HSBC has extended its gambling block feature to 72 hours. 

Covering the period from March to November 2020, the UKGC’s report concluded that “across the population as a whole, there is no evidence of a significant or sustained increase in gambling activity in the Covid-19 period.” Despite this, the UKGC says the research does “highlight links between the impacts of the pandemic on people’s financial and mental wellbeing, and increased gambling.”

The Commission once again urged operators to be extra vigilant during the latest national lockdown, during which millions of people are spending more time at home and facing uncertain personal and financial futures. It also identified the return of live sport as being potentially conducive to problem gambling. 

Meanwhile, major UK bank HSBC has extended its cooling off period for its gambling block feature from 24 hours to 72 hours. When a customer chooses to use the gambling block tool, it stops them from making gambling payments on their HSBC account, automatically declining any transactions. 

Commenting on the move, Head of Financial Inclusion and Vulnerability at HSBC UK, Maxine Pritchard, said:

“This is a challenging time for many of our customers, with some not working and perhaps facing financial difficulty. By increasing the restriction to 72 hours, this will help give our customers time to pause when they are tempted to return to gambling.

“We are always looking for new ways to support our customers and make it easier for them to manage their finances. Customer feedback on our gambling control showed us there was more we could do to help and we’ve worked closely with them and with GamCare to design the solution.”

The move has been welcomed by gambling charity GamCare, with CEO, Anna Hemmings, saying:

“The ability to block gambling transactions through your bank card or app is an important tool for those struggling with their gambling, and is ideally used together with other practical tools such as self-exclusion, blocking software, and specialist support around the issue – as we have recently emphasised through our ‘TalkBanStop’ partnership and campaign.”

Staying with GamCare, in December the charity teamed up with Gamban and Gamstop to launch the TalkBanStop scheme, aimed at helping problem gamblers kick their addiction.

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