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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.

Emerging Markets

QTech Games integrates Blue Tower Games content for emerging markets

Published

26 minutes ago

June 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

qtech-games-integrates-blue-tower-games-content-for-emerging-markets

QTech Games has signed a content partnership with Blue Tower Games, adding the supplier’s catalogue to QTech’s aggregation platform for clients in emerging markets. The agreement was announced on 8 June 2026.

QTech said the integration gives operators access to Blue Tower Games content across multiple formats, including slots as well as instant win, bingo, table and crash-style games.

Titles cited in the rollout include crash-mechanics games positioned around sports, such as Cricket Showdown and Knockout King, plus mini games and game show-style releases including Sorcerer’s Spin. More traditional content referenced includes slots Western Gold Rush and Vikings Hunt For Wealth, bingo title Casino War, instant win game Hi-Lo, and table games including Baccarat and Teen Patti.

Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, said: “Blue Tower’s sprawling range of trending games captures the current zeitgeist perfectly. Theirs is a growing and constantly innovating library, delivering consistent support to the growth of our broad gaming-vertical spread, courtesy of some quality graphics, gameplay and unique features. Like us, they understand that diverse and localised solutions represent the pathway to success.

“Together, we can continue to raise the bar and shape a localised experience for global players. We can’t wait to witness how these games perform across a range of untapped markets which, in many cases, represent new territory for Blue Tower.”

Param Patel, COO at Blue Tower Games, added: “At Blue Tower, we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence, consistently testing the limits of game design with unique mechanics, adaptive layouts, and dynamic features that keep players coming back for more. Our dedicated team combines creative vision with technical expertise to craft games that not only look and sound incredible but also offer compelling and rewarding gameplay. With a focus on innovation and a deep understanding of player preferences, Blue Tower Games continues to lead the industry, creating unforgettable experiences that resonate with players across the planet.

“This deal with QTech greatly improves our product distribution across emerging territories, delivering our fantastic games to a range of untapped operators. Powered by the fine-tuned recommendation algorithms of QTech’s game lobby, which cut through the white noise of competing releases and match the right game to the right audience, we look forward to seeing how our titles capture the imaginations of a swathe of new players across emerging markets.”

The post QTech Games integrates Blue Tower Games content for emerging markets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Affiliates

Digicode brings Diger Suite iGaming ecosystem to SBC Summit Americas 2026

Published

26 minutes ago

June 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

digicode-brings-diger-suite-igaming-ecosystem-to-sbc-summit-americas-2026

Digicode will attend SBC Summit Americas 2026 on June 9–11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, where it plans to present its Diger Suite iGaming technology ecosystem.

The company positions Diger Suite as a modular stack aimed at operators managing multi-jurisdiction expansion, including platform operations, payments, compliance, affiliates and player engagement. Digicode said the product is designed to support “more control and flexibility” as operators modernize legacy infrastructure.

Digicode said the Diger Suite includes DigerRGS (remote game server), DigerPAM (player account management), DigerPay (payment orchestration), DigerClick (affiliate management), and DigerCompanion, described as an AI-powered operational assistant for automating support processes and routine tasks.

During the event, Digicode said its team will discuss platform ownership, operational scalability, and approaches to reduce reliance on rigid SaaS and revenue-share models, alongside demos of the suite.

“SBC Summit Americas brings together organizations that are actively navigating the realities of multi-market growth,” said Elkhan Shabanov, CEO Americas at Digicode. “As operators expand across jurisdictions, the need for flexible, ownership-driven technology becomes increasingly important. Through the Diger Suite, we help businesses gain greater control over their platforms, streamline operations, and build foundations that support sustainable long-term growth.”

The post Digicode brings Diger Suite iGaming ecosystem to SBC Summit Americas 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Jackpot

Winaday Casino turns 18 with new Alona’s Wild Realm slot and June promos

Published

26 minutes ago

June 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

winaday-casino-turns-18-with-new-alona’s-wild-realm-slot-and-june-promos

WinadayCasino.eu is marking its 18th birthday with a month-long promotion schedule through June, led by the launch of a new slot title, Alona’s Wild Realm, and a set of daily bonus offers.

The new game, Alona’s Wild Realm, is described by the operator as a 5×4, 28-payline video slot with a $0.28–$44.80 bet range. Winaday says the title includes Colossal symbols, Wilds, and a Free Spins Bonus round that triggers with 3–5 BONUS symbols for up to 30 free spins, with 3×3 Colossal symbols and “all wins DOUBLED.”

Winaday also highlighted a late-May jackpot payout: player BIGMIKE888 won $97,146 on Gods Of Egypt. The operator said the game has been “long retired from most casinos but still paying at Winaday.”

For June 8–14, Winaday’s published “Birthday Bonus Bash” includes: 50 free spins (code “MAGIC,” 1x per day, 33x wagering, valid on Alona’s Wild Realm); a 135% match for VIPs and 90% for all players on deposits $15–$300 (code “FRIENDSHIP,” 1x per day, 35x wagering, valid on Alona’s Wild Realm); and a 125% match on deposits $100–$400 plus a 95% match on $25–$99 (code “ADVENTURE,” redeem 2x per day, 27x wagering, valid on all Slotland Ent. slots & keno).

The operator said the broader June calendar also includes free chips on Winaday Originals (early June), weekly VIP free spins on Buffalo Wild Wins, Cowboys vs Aliens, Four Leaf Fever, and 7Heaven (mid-June), and a late-June “grand finale” with free spins on Diamond Riches 2 and travel-themed slot bonuses.

The post Winaday Casino turns 18 with new Alona’s Wild Realm slot and June promos appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.