UK’s Starling Bank: 48-hour delay on the merchant block for gambling and betting

Starling  Bank became the first UK bank to introduce a gambling block in 2018. This meant that customers could choose to block all payments made to gambling or betting merchants with one switch, found under the ’Card and Currency Controls’ section of the Starling app. 

How does the 48-hour delay work?
When the gambling block is on, Starling cards and accounts will be locked for all payments made to merchants associated with gambling or betting. Transactions at non-gambling merchants, for example buying a lottery ticket at a newsagent, will still go through. But if you try to bet on a football match on a betting website, this would be blocked. Once you switch it on, the block prevents payments immediately. It works by excluding payments to all merchants with a gambling licence, giving us a unique and reliable way to group these payments together and block them.

The 48-hour delay feature kicks in from the moment you try to switch the block off. It’s what’s known as ’positive friction’, a ’nudge’ or a ’cooling-off period’ for the customer who may change their mind when they’re given more time to think. It makes gambling or betting on impulse more difficult.

Why has Starling added a 48-hour delay for switching off the gambling block?
Starling added this feature following conversations with mental health and gambling charities and feedback from customers. The consensus is that a 48-hour delay makes the block more effective. The delay cannot be overridden by speaking to customer services or redownloading the Starling app. Customers will be told about the 48-hour delay when they first deactivate gambling and betting payments.

When customers try to switch off the block, they will be provided with details of the National Gambling Helpline in case they need free advice or support on gambling. The number to call is 0808 8030 133.

Source: starlingbank.com