GVC.L Share News (GVC)

(Sharecast News) - An anti-gambling charity called on banks to improve their card blocking systems to try to aid those with gambling problems after data emerged that 40% of current accounts offer no help in such cases.

Research on behalf of GambleAware found that just eight financial companies offered customers the ability to block future payments to gambling sites in case they lost control and became addicted.

GambleAware said Nationwide and Capital One currently offered no opportunity to block payments to gambling companies. Of the eight banks that do offer the option, customers of three could immediately turn them off.

The changes in current accounts could help alleviate the gambling problem in the UK, which costs Britons up to £1.2bn a year and can devastate the lives of those affected.

The charity is urging banks to implement the card blockers and also restrictions so that they cannot be removed for at least 48 hours.

GambleAware chief executive, Marc Etches, said: "Keeping people safe from gambling harms requires banks to play their full part in providing consumers with effective means to block gambling transactions."