The Professional Footballers' Association of Northern Ireland (PFA NI) has announced a new partnership with gambling blocking software provider Gamban.
This collaboration aims to enable association members to use problem gambling support tools provided by Gamban, an organization committed to combating gambling-related harms within its community.
More specifically, Gamban's technology, which blocks access to gambling sites and apps, will now be used to help protect Northern Irish players from gambling addiction and related issues.
Speaking about the arrangement, Michael Carvill, CEO of PFA NI, said: "As the representative body for professional footballers in Northern Ireland, we are committed to supporting our members both on and off the field. The issue of gambling addiction is increasingly receiving attention in football, and our partnership with Gamban is an important step in providing tangible help to those in need."
Melissa Etherington, Partner Manager at Gamban, added: "Gambling addiction is a growing problem in football, affecting players' mental health, financial status, and on-field performance. It can also compromise the fairness of sports. We are pleased to partner with PFA NI to raise awareness of Gamban among those most vulnerable to online gambling harms."
It is worth noting that in the fourth quarter of 2024, political institutions in Northern Ireland repeatedly requested enhanced restrictions on gambling advertising in the region.
Subsequently, Northern Ireland officially updated its gambling regulations to align more closely with legislation implemented in the UK to address these issues.
For Gamban, this latest deal was reached after announcing further collaborations, with the Dutch regulatory authority KSA funding a one-year pilot service for the provider in the Dutch market.
Earlier this year, Gamban's services were launched in Ohio at the end of 2023 and received Investors in People's platinum certification.
