Following its first year as a pilot program, TalkBanStop – cooperation between GamCare, Gamban, and GAMSTOP – has had a beneficial impact in helping people stop gambling, according to a new independent report released today by Ipsos.
Collab With a Mission
The collaboration brings together free tools and support that can assist people in quitting gambling and maintaining a successful recovery. It combines personal support from GamCare's professional advisers with free access to Gamban blocking software that may be installed on numerous devices and referrals to GAMSTOP, a free self-exclusion plan.
The collaboration brings together free tools and support that can assist people in quitting gambling and maintaining a successful recovery.
Gamban's blocking software has been downloaded more than 9,000 times since the relationship began.
Multilayered, Effective Impact of the Collaboration
The research, conducted by Ipsos, underlines the tools' impact in helping people quit or minimize their online gambling. Those who use both Gamban and GAMSTOP and bank blocking software are the most successful in doing so.
There was a significant reduction in gambling-related harms among those who stopped or reduced their online gambling. Respondents who took part in the cooperation said they saw an improvement in:
- Financial status - Even just a few months after using the tools, respondents reported being in a better financial position. Some people even reported that they were able to resume saving.
- Improved relationships - After using the tools, participants said their relationships had improved. Many people said the tools allowed them to be more honest about their gambling and illustrate how they dealt with it.
- People's overall well-being — With improved sleep and a more optimistic outlook, people's overall well-being was also an essential area of development.
- Workplace performance - respondents said they were able to concentrate more at work and were not distracted by gambling during working hours.
GamCare's Chief Executive, Anna Hemmings, stated that they’ve seen a significant value in pooling their resources and support together to help people quit gambling online since the TalkBanStop relationship began.
We've observed how layering all three of our treatments has increased the impact for those who need it the most throughout the course of the trial year.
She also said that while the tools and support have been effective, the bank blocks are shown to go one step further in restricting payments in land-based gambling venues such as betting shops. Going forward, we hope to work with more financial services to highlight the positive impact that TalkBanStop can have.
The three organizations announced in January that the campaign had received a one-year extension from the Gambling Commission as part of a regulatory settlement. The additional funding will be used to provide free Gamban licenses, improve marketing of the free tools and assistance offered, and evaluate the partnership's success on an ongoing basis.
