UK: half million self-exclude from online gambling

British banks say 570,000 people have blocked their casino accounts during the Coronavirus lockdown over problem gambling fears.

UK.- Over half a million people have blocked themselves from using their online gambling accounts due to fears of developing problem play habits during the COVID-19 lockdown. 

The information comes directly from major British banks, who told the Daily Mail that around 570,000 people who currently gamble online via their bank account have taken steps to block access to gambling sites.

The UK Gambling Commission believes there are 340,000 problem gamblers in the United Kingdom and have already taken steps to prevent that number increasing further.

Gamblers are currently able to deposit funds into their online casino accounts from their bank account, though major banks give their customers the option to ‘block’ payments to their gambling sites.

This block can only be taken back once a cooling off period has taken place, which will either be 24 or 48 hours depending on who you are banking with.