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GambleAware Publishes New Reports and Guide for Financial Services Industry to Help Prevent Gambling Harm

Published

5 years ago

July 15, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

GambleAware has published a new report by the Behavioural Insights Team which analyses behavioural datasets to understand whether these could be used to build a clearer picture of the ways in which people gamble, identify possible harms, and eventually inform prevention, treatment, and support responses.

The commissioned research analysed bank transactional data from Monzo and HSBC, aiming to shed new light on what these datasets can, and cannot, tell us about gambling behaviour. The reports demonstrated that bank customer and transactional data can offer valuable insights into the success of gambling blocking tools and also provide unique profiles of gamblers. For example, of those using Monzo’s gambling blocker, it was found that the week before gamblers activated the block, their average daily gambling spend tripled. Specific profiles of gamblers were also revealed by the research, such as that gamblers had less money on average in their Monzo internal saving pots than non-gamblers, or that gamblers ranked “Very Concerning” by HSBC had on average 35.6 gambling transactions per month, compared to 15.6 in those ranked “Concerning”, and just 1.2 in the “Control” group.

Taken individually, however, these datasets are not enough to understand whether a customer is at risk of experiencing gambling harms. A dataset from a single bank is unlikely to offer a full picture of an individual’s spending, and so these exploratory research projects illustrated that further research is needed to create a fuller picture of an individual’s overall financial wellbeing.

“Our research with HSBC and Monzo has demonstrated that bank transactional data can be a useful tool in identifying gambling behaviours and the unique profiles of gamblers, but further work is needed to understand how such data can be used robustly. Different banks may use different factors, and different thresholds to identify gambling, and future work could look at developing a more standard operating model of how this kind of data should be used to identify those at risk of harm,” Dr Simon McNair, Advisor at BIT, said

“Our research with GambleAware helps us to understand gambling-related behaviours so that we can provide the best support to our customers. This includes opt-in solutions such as a gambling restriction feature to help people control their urge to gamble and automatic declines or referrals for lending to help prevent the customer getting into debt. Customers can also appoint third parties to help manage their finances either through a third-party mandate or our Independence Service. In addition, our specialist support team are on hand to aid customers at risk of financial harm and can refer to trusted external organisations where needed. We continue to work with charities such as Gamble Aware on other ways in which we can ensure these customers have access to the right support,” Maxine Pritchard, Head of Financial Inclusion and Vulnerability at HSBC, said.

“Our work with the Behavioural Insights Team has provided us with important insights into gambling behaviour and the impacts of gambling. At Monzo, this is an area we care deeply about and we’ve had amazing success so far with our gambling block, which has been used by more than 350,000 customers since its launch in 2017. We’re excited to use these insights to inform future work in this area, further reduce gambling harm and provide our customers with even more control over their financial lives,” Natalie Ledward, Head of Vulnerable Customers at Monzo, said.

GambleAware has commissioned the Personal Finance Research Centre at the University of Bristol to produce a practical guide for financial services seeking to protect customers from gambling-related financial harms. The guide offers real-life examples of what firms can do to identify and support customers who are at risk of gambling-related financial harm. It highlights the value of financial firms proactively analysing customer transaction data for spending patterns and behavioural signs that might indicate gambling-related vulnerability and enable firms to take action to prevent harm occurring.

“At a conservative estimate, at least five million people in Britain experience harmful gambling, either because of their own gambling or someone else’s. Regulated financial services firms are well-placed to address the financial harms linked to gambling-related vulnerability and our practical guide shows them how. Doing this may have knock-on benefits for other dimensions of gambling harm, such as people’s mental health,” Professor Sharon Collard, Research Director at the University of Bristol’s Personal Finance Research Centre, said.

“This research from the Behavioural Insights Team is a good first step to explore how bank transactional data may be able to identify behaviours indicative of gambling harm. Whilst more research is needed into this area, we encourage all financial institutions, including those from non-bank settings, to make the most of the new guide to see what they can do to protect their customers from gambling harm. By working with financial services and promoting the advice and support available, we can work collaboratively to respond to customer need to keep people safe from gambling harm,” Zoë Osmond, CEO at GambleAware, said.

Inferno Mayhem

PG Soft cranks up the volume with electrifying Inferno Mayhem slot

Published

54 minutes ago

March 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

pg-soft-cranks-up-the-volume-with-electrifying-inferno-mayhem-slot

PG Soft, the acclaimed mobile game developer, has turned up the heat with Inferno Mayhem, a 5×5 video slot that fuses rock concert intensity with thrilling gameplay. The story unfolds as players step back into the spotlight after Lennox, the king of the stage, mysteriously vanished mid-performance, leaving fans craving a show-stopping experience.

Gameplay and Features

Inferno Mayhem combines collapsing reels, respins, and Wild symbols with multipliers up to x500, immersing players in a roaring rock show atmosphere. Every spin builds toward a mosh pit crescendo, keeping adrenaline levels high.

Respin Feature: Wild symbols can appear on any spin, sometimes carrying multipliers from x2 to x500. When Wilds land, wins are multiplied by the combined total of all multipliers, and a free respin is awarded. Locked Wilds during respins dramatically increase winning potential.
Free Spins Feature: Triggered by Scatters:
- 3 Scatters = 10 free spins
- 4 Scatters = 12 free spins
- 5 Scatters = 15 free spins
  Wild symbols that appear during free spins remain locked until the round ends, boosting chances of epic wins.
Super Feature Buy: For players seeking maximum thrill, this option ensures all Wild symbols carry multipliers between x2 and x500 throughout free spins.

With a maximum win of x25,000 the bet and high session volatility, Inferno Mayhem delivers an electrifying, headbanging experience.

PG Soft commented:
“With Inferno Mayhem, we wanted to capture the adrenaline of a live rock show and bring it to the reels. From the heavy-hitting Respin Feature to the power-packed Free Spins, this hit title has been crafted to get players headbanging while the guitars shred alongside the action.”

Inferno Mayhem exemplifies PG Soft’s signature approach of combining cinematic themes, innovative mechanics, and high-stakes excitement for mobile players.

The post PG Soft cranks up the volume with electrifying Inferno Mayhem slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Celtic Coins

Spinomenal expands Hold & Hit 3×3 series with Celtic Coins

Published

54 minutes ago

March 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

spinomenal-expands-hold-&-hit-3×3-series-with-celtic-coins

Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has launched its newest release, Celtic Coins – Hold & Hit 3×3, expanding its popular Hold & Hit 3×3 series with a charming Irish twist.

Set against a lush emerald backdrop with a golden border, the game pairs a light-hearted, Irish-inspired soundtrack with a visually engaging 3×3 reel layout. Players encounter a golden Pot of Gold Wild, substituting for all symbols except the Bonus and Bonus Collect. The Bonus symbol appears on reels one and three, while the Bonus Collect is exclusive to reel two.

Landing a Bonus Collect alongside one or more Bonus symbols triggers the Bonus Game, where the triggering symbols remain locked in place. Players fill empty spots and can earn multipliers ranging from x1 to x15 of the total bet. Jackpots include the Mini (x25), Minor (x50), Major (x150), and Grand Jackpot (x1000), with the chance to win up to x5000 the total bet for hitting the maximum. Every Bonus or Bonus Collect symbol refreshes the spin counter to three, keeping the excitement high.

Additionally, the Bonus Blast Feature can activate randomly during the base game, adding more Bonus and Bonus Collect symbols to help trigger the Bonus Game.

Omer Henya, Co-CEO of Spinomenal, said:
“Celtic Coins – Hold & Hit 3×3 is another classy addition to our growing Hold & Hit 3×3 series. The coin-locking feature is on the money and makes for an incredibly exciting reel experience that is perfectly complemented by the jackpots and multipliers on offer.”

The launch reinforces Spinomenal’s commitment to innovative, feature-packed slots that combine visually rich themes with rewarding gameplay mechanics.

The post Spinomenal expands Hold & Hit 3×3 series with Celtic Coins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Betting.za.com

Betting.za.com supports amendments strengthening South Africa’s voluntary exclusion system and compliance requirements

Published

54 minutes ago

March 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

bettingza.com-supports-amendments-strengthening-south-africa’s-voluntary-exclusion-system-and-compliance-requirements

Betting.za.com, a leading South African information site for online betting and gambling, has welcomed the publication of draft amendments to the National Gambling Regulations, 2004 in Government Gazette No. 54106, issued under Government Notice R. 7113 by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

The proposed changes focus on improving the administration and enforcement of South Africa’s Voluntary Exclusion Programme through the National Register of Excluded Persons, alongside updates to technical rules for gambling machine re-certification.

“Stronger, clearer processes around voluntary exclusion are an essential part of player protection,” said Dennis Kumar, lead betting expert at Betting.za.com. “Anything that makes it easier to self-exclude, harder to bypass, and clearer for licensed operators to implement should be supported — because gambling should always remain safe, controlled, and within limits.”

Key Amendments Proposed in the Gazette

1. Clearer Registration for Voluntary Exclusion
Players wishing to self-exclude must submit a notice to the National Gambling Board (NGB) using Form NGB 1/1, in hard copy or electronically, including a recent passport-sized photo or digital image meeting minimum specifications.

2. Defined Timelines for Handling Notices

Operators must forward exclusion notices to the Board on the day they receive them.
The Board must process the notice within five days (excluding weekends/public holidays) and share it with license holders and provincial authorities.
Operators must implement administrative procedures within five days after receipt.
Exclusion takes effect 10 days after submission to the Board.

3. Strengthened Internal Controls
License holders must submit internal control measures to provincial authorities within 90 days of the regulations taking effect, ensuring effective enforcement in gambling venues. Provincial authorities then report both internal controls and provincial registers to the Board.

4. Updated Gambling Machine Re-certification Rules
The amendments revise timing for technical re-certification of gambling machines and devices, including a 24-month window in certain circumstances.

5. Updated Forms
Forms NGB 1/1 and NGB 1/2 have been revised and included in the Gazette annexure.

What This Means for Players

Voluntary exclusion provides a formal “opt-out” mechanism for anyone wanting to limit their gambling activity. Once registered:

Players are excluded from designated gambling areas nationally
Names are added to the National Register of Excluded Persons
Gambling while excluded may result in forfeited winnings, remitted to the Board

The updated forms also reference support services, including the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) toll-free helpline: 0800 006 008, and an SMS/WhatsApp line.

Implications for Operators and Regulators

The draft regulations emphasize speed, consistency, and accountability:

Operators must escalate notices same-day to the Board
The Board has five days to capture and distribute the notice
Operators have five days to implement administrative processes
Mandatory submission of internal control measures ensures auditability and compliance

Betting.za.com: Championing Safer, Transparent Gambling

Betting.za.com provides independent, plain-language guidance on betting and online casino topics, focusing on licensed operators and player protection.

“Our mission is to be South Africa’s most reliable source for betting and casino information,” said Kumar. “This includes making regulatory updates easy to understand, highlighting practical tools like voluntary exclusion, and ensuring players know where to get help if gambling stops being fun.”

About Betting.za.com
Betting.za.com is South Africa’s trusted destination for expert betting and casino information. Led by Dennis Kumar, the platform publishes independent reviews, guides, and industry updates to help players make informed, safe choices.

Responsible gambling support: NRGP toll-free helpline 0800 006 008

The post Betting.za.com supports amendments strengthening South Africa’s voluntary exclusion system and compliance requirements appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.