The Dutch gambling regulator is to fund the roll-out of the UK’s Gamban problem gambling support tool in the Netherlands for one year.
Anyone in the Netherlands can now contact Loket Kanssspel, a Dutch gambling support helpline, to obtain a Dutch version of the software.
Gamban blocks access to all online gambling sites and apps across all of a person’s devices free-of-charge for a year.
Nathalie Smit, director at Loket Kansspel, said the company is “empowering individuals to stay in control and manage their gambling behaviour.”
Thomas Borghols, addiction prevention fund adviser at Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), which is funding the Gamban launch in the country, said allowing players to use Gamban will help them go one step further in improving their playing habits.
“At present, KSA offers players struggling with their gambling behaviour the option to self-exclude through Cruks,” Borghols said.
“However, Cruks pertains only to operators holding a licence in the Netherlands. Gamban gives players the opportunity to also block access to illegal gambling websites.
“When used together, Cruks and Gamban provide players a perspective on recovery. Teaming up with Loket Kansspel for the distribution of Gamban subscriptions was a logical choice for us, given that they are the first point of contact for players looking for an independent, judgement-free talk about the gambling issues facing them.”
Matt Zarb-Cousin, co-founder of Gamban, said: “Layering up blocking software with self-exclusion ensures that devices are unable to access gambling sites and apps, whether regulated or unregulated.”
Gamban furthermore announced that the tool is available in Brazilian Portuguese.
