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Over $100k worth of free support to problem gamblers

Published

5 years ago

January 28, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Gambless first big milestone offers a glimpse into where its users come from and confirms the importance of mhealth support

The release of Gambless, a new mobile app tackling gambling addiction, was announced last September. The app, which is accessible on both iOS and Android devices, offers resources to problem gamblers, including informative articles, a self-care diary, coping-skills exercises, diagnostic tests and an emergency chatbot.
Today, less than 5 months later, Gambless announces to have already given away several hundred free codes, allowing access its psycho-educational resources, amounting to over $120.000.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
After the initial months of organic growth, at the beginning of December, Gambless decided to start surveying its users about their location and their most frequented gambling operators.
These data was gathered anonymously, and now it gives a better understanding of its userbase: in the past 8 weeks, 27% of registered users came from the United Kingdom and Ireland, 24% from the USA, 12% are Australians, 10% Italians and 5% Canadians. And while there are people registering from all over the world (30+ countries), a handful of countries account for more than 3/4 of its users.

The pie doesn’t aim to give a global picture of the gambling addiction issue, considering that at the moment Gambless is available in just 3 languages (EN, IT and RU). But it offers an interesting vantage point.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND MHEALTH
Gambless has been created and developed by the same team of psychologist who designed Mindspa, another mobile app targeting a broader audience on mental health topics. Combined, the two apps count over 250,000 registered users in less than a year, with 000s of positive reviews.
Studies show that problem gambling often overlaps with other issues. 43% of problem gamblers have also alcohol issues, 25% struggle with drugs, 60% have comorbidity with anxiety and depression, and the list goes on. And from its conception, Gambless mission has been to provide prevention and support to problem gamblers, with a holistic approach on mental health.
Gambless aims to address first and foremost the mental health of vulnerable individuals, offering programs covering emotional intelligence, loneliness, stress, jealousy, and features a collection of hundreds of coping skill exercises on feelings like anger, anxiety, resentment, self-distrust, frustration, sadness, guilt, apathy, fear, and so on.
In this context, it is also extremely important that the role of mhealth (mobile health) support.
Smartphones nowadays have a penetration of over 80% in many countries. Thus, thanks to mhealth, treatment and other resources can be accessed more easily, regardless of socio-demographic aspects. Furthermore, support via mobile phone gives that sense of privacy that often prevents problem gamblers from getting the help they need.

GAMBLESS PLEDGE
It is a known fact that only between 1 and 3 percent of problem gamblers get support each year. With the help of technology, there is the opportunity to both increase awareness and create a diverse and more accessible landscape of support options. And Gambless vows to take its active part to this change.

Alona Shevtsova

Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh

Published

5 hours 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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