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BetBlocker Marks Safer Gambling Week with New Blocking Feature

Published

6 years ago

November 19, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

BetBlocker, the UK charity behind the popular responsible gambling software by the same name, has announced a brand-new feature just in time for Safer Gambling Week 2020, which runs from 19-25 November. The feature makes it easier for people to block online gambling activities via a calendaring function.

The new feature was developed to address feedback from both players and the industry that suggested that providing greater flexibility to users to control when the restriction switches on or off would make the service significantly more useful to a large number of people. The feature was developed with the understanding that, while some individuals are looking to block themselves from gambling altogether, others simply want help to manage their gambling in a responsible fashion by limiting their access at times that they feel they may be vulnerable.

Blocking Via Calendaring

Until now, the BetBlocker software has relied exclusively on blocking for a fixed length of time. Software users would block themselves from gambling for whatever period of time they felt comfortable with. From the start of the block until its conclusion, the user was prevented from accessing online gambling activities.

The new calendaring feature allows users to be more precise in blocking out desired times. By applying blocks to a calendar, they can designate specific days they know they should not be gambling, without simultaneously blocking all access to gambling activities.

For example, a person who knows his gambling habits tend to get out of control on the weekends can use the new feature to just block out Friday through to Sunday. The rest of the week remains open. Another person might decide to block out the first few days following their regular payday.

“Responsible gambling is about more than the binary option of do or don’t,” BetBlocker Trustee Duncan Garvie said. “It’s about helping ensure that people who enjoy gambling can access this activity in a safe and controlled manner.”

Garvie went on to explain that “BetBlocker’s new calendaring feature is a leap forward for blocking softwares, extending the service from a simple on/off to a point where users can now tailor restrictions that suit their specific needs.”

BetBlocker officials say the new feature has just been rolled out for Android. It will be implemented in the Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, and Fire OS apps in the very near future. For more information see https://thepogg.com/bet-blocker-launch-calendaring-feature/ or you can contact Managing Trustee Duncan Garvie at [email protected].

Alona Shevtsova

Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh

Published

7 minutes ago

June 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

sends-ceo-alona-shevtsova-moderates-global-gaming-expansion-panel-in-riyadh

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel at The Blockchain show on 29^th June, bringing together experts from entertainment, location-based gaming, and content localisation to examine what it takes to build sustainable gaming ecosystems across emerging markets.

The panel, titled “Global Gaming Expansion: Lessons from Untapped Markets,” will structure its discussion across four themes: the growth dynamics reshaping emerging gaming markets; the role of localisation in creating experiences that genuinely connect with new audiences; the infrastructure and communities needed to build gaming ecosystems beyond the game itself; and the lessons and opportunities that will define successful expansion in the years ahead.

Alona Shevtsova plans to frame the discussion around the central challenge for companies looking to expand globally: entering a new market requires far more than bringing an existing product to a new audience. Understanding local cultures, building communities, adapting experiences, and creating ecosystems that allow gaming to grow sustainably are all as important as the product itself.

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, said:

“The future growth of gaming will come not only from new technologies, but from understanding people — their cultures, communities, and the experiences they want to be part of. Successful expansion will belong to those who can combine global ambition with local understanding.”

The first segment will examine why regions including the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia are becoming increasingly significant for developers, operators, and investors — driven by young audiences, accelerating digital adoption, and new entertainment models creating substantial growth potential. Panellists will explore how consumer preferences differ across markets and what trends among younger audiences are shaping the future of gaming and entertainment.

The third segment will broaden the lens beyond the game itself, exploring the role of location-based entertainment, gaming centres, esports, and experiential destinations in attracting new audiences and building long-term communities. Panellists plan to address how entertainment ecosystems — spanning physical venues, events, and community infrastructure — accelerate gaming adoption in markets where the category is still establishing itself.

Earlier this month, Alona Shevtsova was shortlisted for the 2026 Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Established Business of the Year category. Her team is also preparing for the Fintech Connect conference in London later this year. Sends will be a leading sponsor of this event.

*Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED, registered in England and Wales (Company No.11070048). For more information, visit sends.co .

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