GamCare Calls Banks to Detect Customers Affected by Gambling

GamCare is calling on financial institutions to take a proactive role in protecting customers from gambling-related financial harm. By using transactional data to detect risky gambling behaviors, banks could help vulnerable customers access support before they experience serious financial detriment. With tools like self-exclusion services and third-party referrals, GamCare’s approach aims to create a safer financial environment. Learn how GamCare’s innovative recommendations could transform customer support within the financial services industry.

GamCare Urges Banks to Use Data to Protect Customers from Gambling-Related Financial Harm

In an effort to curb gambling-related financial harm, GamCare has urged banks to leverage transactional data to identify high-risk gambling patterns and offer timely assistance to vulnerable customers. The organization’s recent workshop with financial services professionals, part of GamCare’s Gambling Related Financial Harm (GRFH) project, emphasized the essential role that banks can play in protecting at-risk customers by proactively detecting risky behaviors and guiding them to appropriate resources.

Since the GRFH project launched in 2019, GamCare has been working to bridge gaps between financial institutions, debt advisors, and gambling support services. This latest workshop, which brought together over 70 participants from major banks, financial institutions, and charities, focused on actionable strategies to help banks identify and support individuals struggling with gambling-related financial issues.

Key Recommendations from GamCare for Financial Institutions

1. Identifying Risky Gambling Patterns with Transactional Data
   GamCare recommends that banks analyze customer transactional data to detect signs of harmful gambling behaviors. Patterns such as excessive gambling relative to income, increased activity around payday, or frequent gambling transactions late at night can signal potential financial distress. By monitoring these indicators, banks can proactively reach out to customers before they spiral into financial hardship. According to Raminta Diliso, Financial Harm Manager at GamCare, “Banks are uniquely positioned to detect unaffordable gambling through bank statements and transactional data, offering targeted support to those in need.”
2. Promoting Self-Exclusion Tools and Blocking Software
   To help customers manage their gambling behaviors, GamCare advocates for banks to promote self-exclusion tools like Gamstop and blocking software such as Gamban. These tools allow customers to voluntarily restrict their access to gambling sites, providing a critical line of defense for those struggling with gambling addiction. Through targeted communication—such as text messages and notifications—banks can inform customers about these resources and encourage them to take action when needed. Self-exclusion tools have proven effective in helping customers regain control over their finances, especially when combined with professional support.
3. Facilitating Third-Party Referrals to Gambling Support Services
   GamCare also encourages banks to refer customers experiencing financial strain from gambling to specialized support services. By connecting customers with resources like the National Gambling Helpline, financial institutions can ensure that at-risk individuals have access to comprehensive support. Commenting on this approach, Graeme Cunning, Vulnerable Customers Strategy Manager at Santander, noted, “At Santander, we recognize our role in gambling harm prevention, even if we are not directly responsible. We’ve developed interventions, including notifications, to guide customers toward support services.” This holistic approach enables banks to act as a supportive force within the broader framework of gambling harm reduction.

The Role of Financial Institutions in Gambling Harm Prevention

GamCare’s recent recommendations highlight the critical role that financial institutions can play in supporting customers who may be at risk of gambling-related harm. With access to rich transactional data, banks are uniquely positioned to identify patterns of financial distress tied to gambling behaviors. This ability to intervene early can provide customers with support before their issues escalate, offering a layer of prevention that complements other forms of gambling support.

The partnership between GamCare and banks reflects a growing trend of corporate responsibility within the financial sector, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable customers. By investing in systems that detect risky behaviors and offering tools that allow customers to self-manage their gambling activities, banks can make a significant difference in reducing the financial impact of gambling addiction on individuals and families.

GamCare’s call for banks to leverage data and support services marks an important shift in the fight against gambling-related financial harm. By identifying risky patterns, promoting self-exclusion tools, and facilitating referrals, financial institutions can play an active role in preventing gambling harms. As more banks adopt GamCare’s recommendations, the collaboration between financial services and gambling support organizations promises a future where customers receive the proactive help they need to maintain financial well-being. Through these initiatives, GamCare and partnering banks are setting a new standard for responsible financial practices in the fight against gambling harm.