1. Lloyds Bank Stop Gambling Blocking
2. Lloyds Bank Stop Gambling Blocked
3. Lloyds Bank Stop Gambling Block Software

When your freeze is turned on, we’ll block any transaction attempted with those who identify themselves as gambling merchants. If the transaction doesn’t appear to have been made at a gambling merchant, or a merchant hasn’t authorised it with us first, then we won’t be able to stop it - even if you believe it to be gambling related. At least four more high street banks - the Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Lloyds and Santander - are working on plans to help customers restrict their spending on gambling, after Barclays became the Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Lloyds and Santander planning to let you block gambling transactions. Major High Street banks will launch a crackdown on problem gambling this year by allowing customers to switch off spending on betting sites. Lloyds, Santander and Royal Bank of Scotland plan to.

Despite having the necessary tools, more support needs to be given by operators when it comes to player protection in gambling, according to the Founder of Gamban.

Gambling blocking software supplier Gamban announced a partnership with Lloyds Banking Group earlier this week, which will provide customers of Lloyds, Bank of Scotland and Halifax access to its blocking system.

However according to Jack Symons, despite the work banks have done in recent times, the gambling industry must do more to support problem gambling, especially when it has the apparatus at its disposal.

The Gamban Founder and CEO told Gambling Insider: “The regulators talk about innovation, but existing tools aren’t being used. To me, in terms of things that will actively help people, the wheel doesn’t always have to be completely reinvented.

“There are tools that are working and helping, they are just not being given the support they need.

“Despite the myriad of ‘reg-tech’ products, the bare minimum of someone saying ‘I’ve got a problem, I need to stop’, is still something that isn’t being supported by many UK operators.

“The fact things that already exist aren’t being supported gives me very little faith that we’ll get where we want to in terms of players protection any time soon.”

The deal with Lloyds is the first of its kind for Gamban, while other banks also participate in allowing customers to block gambling spend, with Santander and Royal Bank of Scotland joining Barclays in this move last January.

Symons praised the works banks do with player protection, envisaging working with more in the future, but criticised Internet Service Providers (ISP) who he said must ‘step forward.'

He added: “Gambling can manifest as a financial problem, and the banks are an unlikely hero. I think given they are not responsible for providing gambling services, the fact they are stepping up to try and protect their vulnerable customers, is something I think should be widely recognised.

“While we’re seeing more banks helping vulnerable customers, I’d like to also see ISP’s stepping forward.

“There’s a fine line between protection and censorship but what I’d like to see is some of the illegal, unregulated offshore content blocked or at least a warning around the sites that shouldn’t be accessible.

“I think access is clearly a big part of this and if people want to be able to switch off access to gambling through their ISP, we are happy to play a role in this but I think there’s a lot of things that could be done at ISP level.”

A customer adviser for Lloyds bank sold customers' account details to her friend who was a gambling addict.

Jaspreet Marwaha, from Birmingham, gave the information of more than 80 accounts to Mohammed Saif Maqsood, from Blackburn, who paid £50 for each set of card details and swiped between £82,000 and £92,000 from them.

At one point the 27-year-old part-time customer adviser 'laughed' at the prospect of going to jail for the plot.

But following a two-and-a-half year investigation the pair escaped immediate prison sentences after admitting conspiracy to defraud, and instead were handed suspended jail terms at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, August 28.

The bank has since managed to recover a large chunk of the money although more than £25,000 remains outstanding, in relation to 45 customer accounts.

Marwaha worked at the Shirley branch in Solihull from 2009 and sold bank account details from November 2017 to March 2018 when she was arrested.

During a police interview she initially claimed that 'there was an element of coercion by the co-defendant [Maqsood] who was threatening to reveal an illicit relationship', prosecutor Jason Avis said.

Mr Avis explained that the police went through various text messages between the two codefendants where Marwaha laughed at the idea of going to jail for the crime.

Maqsood also said that he was worried about getting caught and talked about a new plan to make big money.

Maqsood had set up 48 separate betting accounts with Coral bookmakers, some of which were in Marwaha's name.

Mr Avis stated the fact the bank worker 'abused her position' would cause 'severe reputational damage' to Lloyds and could result in customers closing their accounts due to a 'loss of trust'.

Philippa McAtasney, defending Marwaha, argued that the offences happened over two years ago and said: 'Back then she views herself as being stupid, naive and thoughtless.

'She failed to grasp the scale of potential loss at the time.

'She handed over those details willingly, at that point she was not thinking about the consequences to others at all.'

She continued saying the plot had been Maqsood's idea and that Marwaha did not make more than £5,000 from it.

Video: Brenton Tarrant sentenced of life in jail without parole (Daily Mail)

Ms McAtasney then argued her defendant's 'previous good character', including various charity work and the fact she has since built up a successful media career - as a Sky Sports assistant producer according to her LinkedIn profile.

The court was told her current employer was not aware of the case against her.

'She has ruined her good name and will most probably lose her dream job,' Ms McAtasney added.

Richard Butcher, defending Maqsood, similarly argued that his client has made strides to change his life by signing up to GAMSTOP to tackle gambling, starting a new business making cupcakes which employees five people, and was expecting his second child.

Lloyds Bank Stop Gambling Blocking

He said: 'He is terribly ashamed.

'He was hiding his gambling addiction from his family, from his wife, keeping it a secret from his close friends.

'That was the root cause.

'That was him two and half years ago.

'Since that time he has done almost everything he can to put his life on an even keel.'

The court heard that both defendants were willing to pay compensation and that Marwaha had already saved £4,000 on top of the £1,500 which was seized when she was arrested.

Maqsood has transferred more than £28,000 to his solicitors.

Judge Paul Farrer QC, passing sentence, stated that while both defendants 'blamed each other' they were both 'willing and enthusiastic participants in what was taking place'.

He added that Maqsood 'undoubtedly received the lion share of the profits'.

However he concluded there was 'significant mitigation' for each of them.

Judge Farrer said Marwaha had since shown herself to be 'well-liked, ambitious and hard-working' whilst she had 'matured considerably'.

Lloyds Bank Stop Gambling Blocked

Addressing Maqsood he said the 'most compelling mitigation is what you have done with your life in the last two and half years', including tackling gambling and starting a new business.

Both were sentenced to 22 months in prison suspended for two years for conspiracy to defraud. Marwaha was handed the same sentence for charge of fraud by abuse of position which is to be served concurrently - at the same time.

She must also carry out 35 days of rehabilitation activity and 250 hours of unpaid work.

In Maqsood's case he must complete 20 days of rehabilitation and 250 hours of unpaid work.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, to determine any amounts to be repaid, will take place at a later date.

Lloyds Bank Stop Gambling Block Software