The TalkBanStop gambling campaign has secured additional funding, allowing it to continue operating for another year.
The campaign launched as a 12-month pilot program under a partnership between GamCare, GAMSTOP, and Gamban. As part of the campaign, the three firms work to promote their tools supported by the National Gambling Treatment Service; Gamban’s blocking software, GAMSTOP’s self-exclusion tool, and GamCare’s support and treatment services.
TalkBanStop will now be able to operate for an additional year until March 2023 after receiving funding from a regulatory settlement approved by the UK Gambling Commission.
A report from GamCare states that the funds will be allocated towards the provision of free blocking software licenses from Gamban and the marketing of free practical tools and support available.
Since the pilot launched last year, the partnership has contributed to more than 7,000 registrations with Gamban’s blocking software, which recently partnered with PayPal to block gambling transactions.
While the additional funding has extended the partnership for another year, the three firms are actively looking to secure further long-term funding to keep the TalkBanStop campaign active.
Anna Hemmings, the Chief Executive at GamCare, said in a statement: “TalkBanStop is a partnership that makes enormous sense for anyone harmed by online gambling, and an excellent example of organisations coming together whose services provide an important first step for people wanting to stop gambling.
“Since the partnership started there has been huge value in pooling our expertise together as organisations, creating an offering that people can use easily and freely to kickstart their recovery.”
Hemmings continued: “We have heard from people supported by TalkBanStop how the impact of our interventions, layered together, can amplify the impact for their recovery. That’s why it’s important there is no break in the free availability of all three layers of support.
“Going forward, we are looking to continue building on the successes of the past year and work towards our shared aspiration of reducing gambling-related harms.”
