- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
PR from Gamban
Gamban has this week marked the 10th year since its inception, a project that resulted from the lived experience of its founders Jack Symons and Matt Zarb-Cousin. Before Gamban, no gambling blocking software existed for Mac computers, nor was any effective on mobile devices.
Since 2015, mobile gambling has rapidly accelerated. Ensuring Gamban works effectively on smartphones, and that it is difficult for the user to remove when they have a gambling urge, has brought with it significant challenges and required ongoing investment, research and development.
Gamban’s ‘north star’ has always been to make gambling blocking software as good as it can be. But the irremovability of its iOS protection on iPhones has been a weakness that has also plagued imitator products.
“What sets us apart from other options is our commitment and ability to continually invest in our approach to blocking gambling. We are not interested in a minimum viable solution - gambling blocking software is far too important to do on the cheap,” said Jack Symons speaking at Gamban’s anniversary event in Shoreditch.
“In line with this aspiration, we are pleased to announce that our new version for iPhones will be impossible to remove by users for their chosen duration of protection. This will enable more peace of mind for Gamban users and their families as they embark on their recovery journey.”
What started as just blocking software has evolved over the past decade, with Gamban now offering more within its difficult-to-remove app that is geared towards recovery. In particular, signposting to localised treatment services and tracking the time and money the user has saved since quitting.
Speaking at Gamban’s anniversary event, Matt Zarb-Cousin said: “When we first got started, we thought the most important thing was to be where our users are - visible on gambling sites and ideally free at the point of need. But given the sentiment of our users towards the gambling operators they perceive have harmed them, our independence from the gambling industry is more important than ever.
“We have valued our relationship with GAMSTOP and GamCare in the UK, with Loket Kansspel in the Netherlands, with Time Out Ohio, and with the Norwegian and Finnish governments. We see our role as being a part of the treatment system and we are very much looking forward to building on that work under an NHS-run system.”
Gamban’s iOS update is currently in beta, and is scheduled for full release soon. The app is currently available in English, French, Spanish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese and has recently been translated into Japanese.
Over 460,000 people have used Gamban since its founding, including over 100,000 active users. The blocklist currently contains 350,000 domains and apps, with around 300 added daily. The methods used for domain detection were the subject of a recent seminar Gamban’s developers held with the Dutch regulator to assist in its fight against the black market.
Gamban has also been awarded Investors In People Platinum, and is B-Corp Certified.
Gamban has this week marked the 10th year since its inception, a project that resulted from the lived experience of its founders Jack Symons and Matt Zarb-Cousin. Before Gamban, no gambling blocking software existed for Mac computers, nor was any effective on mobile devices.
Since 2015, mobile gambling has rapidly accelerated. Ensuring Gamban works effectively on smartphones, and that it is difficult for the user to remove when they have a gambling urge, has brought with it significant challenges and required ongoing investment, research and development.
Gamban’s ‘north star’ has always been to make gambling blocking software as good as it can be. But the irremovability of its iOS protection on iPhones has been a weakness that has also plagued imitator products.
“What sets us apart from other options is our commitment and ability to continually invest in our approach to blocking gambling. We are not interested in a minimum viable solution - gambling blocking software is far too important to do on the cheap,” said Jack Symons speaking at Gamban’s anniversary event in Shoreditch.
“In line with this aspiration, we are pleased to announce that our new version for iPhones will be impossible to remove by users for their chosen duration of protection. This will enable more peace of mind for Gamban users and their families as they embark on their recovery journey.”
What started as just blocking software has evolved over the past decade, with Gamban now offering more within its difficult-to-remove app that is geared towards recovery. In particular, signposting to localised treatment services and tracking the time and money the user has saved since quitting.
Speaking at Gamban’s anniversary event, Matt Zarb-Cousin said: “When we first got started, we thought the most important thing was to be where our users are - visible on gambling sites and ideally free at the point of need. But given the sentiment of our users towards the gambling operators they perceive have harmed them, our independence from the gambling industry is more important than ever.
“We have valued our relationship with GAMSTOP and GamCare in the UK, with Loket Kansspel in the Netherlands, with Time Out Ohio, and with the Norwegian and Finnish governments. We see our role as being a part of the treatment system and we are very much looking forward to building on that work under an NHS-run system.”
Gamban’s iOS update is currently in beta, and is scheduled for full release soon. The app is currently available in English, French, Spanish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese and has recently been translated into Japanese.
Over 460,000 people have used Gamban since its founding, including over 100,000 active users. The blocklist currently contains 350,000 domains and apps, with around 300 added daily. The methods used for domain detection were the subject of a recent seminar Gamban’s developers held with the Dutch regulator to assist in its fight against the black market.
Gamban has also been awarded Investors In People Platinum, and is B-Corp Certified.
