Natwest Block Gambling
- Natwest Block Gambling Rules
- Natwest Block Gambling Advice
- Natwest Block Gambling Money
- Natwest Block Gambling Account
Customers that activate the feature will see any gambling-related transactions automatically declined by the bank for at least 48 hours.
The blocker will remain in place indefinitely until a customer chooses to remove the function, after which they would need to wait 48 hours until being permitted to make a gambling payment.
NatWest customers can access the gambling control in their mobile banking app via Manage My Card, and then Card payment controls.
“The introduction of a gambling block for debit card customers will help us to equip problem gamblers across the UK with more tools to support their recovery,” NatWest’s chief executive of retail banking David Lindberg said.
The new blocker is an extension of an existing feature on NatWest’s credit cards, whereby customers had been able to block gambling transactions on their credit card. This was prior to the British Gambling Commission introducing an outright ban on using credit cards to fund gambling in April this year.
NatWest has introduced a gambling block on debit cards, giving customers the option to trigger a 48-hour cooling-off period via their mobile banking app.
Natwest Block Gambling Rules
Natwest Offers customers a card locking feature, which includes a gambling transactions blocker, within the banking app. Learn more about Natwest's services below. Learn More Barclays Allows customers to block debit card payments to certain types of merchants, including gambling websites and apps, within their banking app. NatWest has introduced a gambling block feature on debit cards, giving customers who may suffer harm a 48-hour cooling-off period before they can make payments. The feature aims to help customers with gambling addictions to take control of their spending. Customers will now have to wait 48 hours before they can make gambling-related payments, during. NatWest has introduced a gambling block feature on debit cards, giving customers who may suffer harm a 48-hour cooling-off period before they can make payments.
NatWest introduced the initial credit card blocking option after it entered into a partnership with gambling support charity GamCare in November last year.
This has seen NatWest and GamCare provide support, advice and treatment for gamblers and their loved ones experiencing harm, as well as offering bespoke training to NatWest’s specialist support teams on how to identify gambling harm.
“Problem gambling and financial hardship go hand in hand and through our work with GamCare, we have offered an increasing amount of help to those customers who need it most through our trained specialists and donating branch space for treatment therapy to reduce traditional barriers to access,” Lindberg said.
GamCare chief executive Anna Hemmings added: “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.”
Carolyn Harris MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm, also welcomed the new function, saying gambling blocks and the financial services sector have an important role to play in preventing gambling related harm.
Earlier this year, mobile-focused bank Starling Bank also added a 48-hour delay to its gambling blocker for customers before payments can be reactivated.
Natwest Block Gambling Advice
The FINANCIAL -- Last year, NatWest introduced a unique partnership with gambling charity GamCare to provide support, advice and treatment for gamblers and their loved ones experiencing harm. This included the option to block credit cards allowing customers to take control of their spending and block all transactions linked to gambling.
The bank has now introduced this measure on debit cards to allow customers to take further control of their spending. During lockdown, NatWest saw a decline in gambling transactions. As restrictions have eased, however, gambling related spend amongst NatWest customers has started to increase rapidly. Overall gambling related spending is around 32% higher in September 2020 than in 2019.
The friction that has been built in to enhance the block means that customers will now have to wait 48 hours before they can make gambling related payments, during which time any attempted transactions will be automatically declined. The block will remain in place indefinitely, unless a customer chooses to remove it, in which case it can be disabled after a 48-hour cooling off period. NatWest customers can access the gambling control in their mobile banking app via Manage My Card, and then Card payment controls.
Year on year, around 70% of callers to the National Gambling Helpline, operated by GamCare, mention some level of gambling debt or financial hardship. As part of NatWest’s partnership with GamCare, bespoke training is provided for NatWest’s specialist support teams on how to identify gambling related harm and support customers and non-customers who want to stop gambling. Prior to COVID restrictions GamCare used a number of NatWest branches to provide face to face private consultations to support those impacted by gambling problems.
David Lindberg, CEO of Retail Banking at NatWest said: “The introduction of a gambling block for debit card customers will help us to equip problem gamblers across the UK with more tools to support their recovery. Problem gambling and financial hardship go hand in hand and through our work with GamCare, we have offered an increasing amount of help to those customers who need it most through our trained specialists and donating branch space for treatment therapy to reduce traditional barriers to access.”
Anna Hemmings, CEO of GamCare, says: “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.
Natwest Block Gambling Money
A recent report from the University of Bristol Personal Finance Research Centre has highlighted that ‘positive friction’ such as a cooling off period is important for the success of blocks, as this prevents them being turned off in the event of urges to gamble. GamCare is pleased to see NatWest take this positive step to support their customers and we hope more of the financial sector follows suit.”
Natwest Block Gambling Account
Carolyn Harris MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm added:“I very much welcome this announcement. Gambling blocks and the financial services sector as a whole have an important role to play in preventing gambling related harm”
NatWest participates in GamCare’s Gambling Related Financial Harm Advisory Panel, which recently introduced a comprehensive toolkit for financial institutions, gambling businesses and debt advice agencies across the UK to help them recognise, support and refer customers experiencing gambling-related financial harms, and provide consistent communications across all points of the customer journey.
There are several support options available for those who feel their gambling is getting out of control. GamCare offers a range of help as part of the National Gambling Treatment Service, and at NatWest we have dedicated specialists on hand to support customers.