UK bank Barclays has introduced a new app that will allow customers to turn off transactions with all gambling-related properties including retail bookmakers, casinos, racetracks, lottery and online gambling sites.
The gambling-block feature has been co-developed with citizen financial advisory the Money Advice Trust, and seeks to bring greater control and spending safeguards to Barclays customers,” the release said.
“We work with a range of advisers and partners, as well as consulting with our customers, to identify how our customers’ needs are changing and what works for them,” said Catherine McGrath, Managing Director at Barclays UK. “This new control feature is the latest new service that we have introduced in the Barclays Mobile Banking app that aims to give all of our customers a better way to manage their money in a simple, secure and effective way.”
The bank also said it has been working with the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute to help identify customer profiles and risky retail segments.
Marc Etches, Chief Executive of GambleAware, welcomed the announcement.
“There are 340,000 problem gamblers in Britain and a further 1.7 million at risk, and initiatives like this can play an important role in helping to reduce gambling-related harms,” he said in another press release. “There are no limits to stakes and prizes for online gambling, and credit cards are allowed so it is important to make it easier for people to control their spending.”
