Barclays
Bank
- Control
- Gambling / merchant control
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 72 hours
- Setup
- App / Phone / Branch
Key difference
72-hour cooling-off
Back to Safer Gambling HubBlock available Block available Block available Block available Block available Block available Block available Block available Block available Block available No dedicated block verified No dedicated block verified Block available Block available Block available Block available Block available Limit only
Safer gambling · Guidance
Practical payment controls
Bank Gambling Controls
Find your bank and see which gambling payment controls are available, how to switch them on and what happens if you later try to remove them.
This directory provides general safer-gambling information, not personalised financial advice.
One layer of protection
Bank gambling controls are an additional layer of protection. Coverage varies by provider and payment method. A bank block is not self-exclusion, is not guaranteed to stop every gambling transaction and does not replace specialist support.
How bank gambling controls identify payments
Most controls use merchant categorisation, such as Merchant Category Codes or equivalent transaction classification, to identify card payments associated with gambling. Coverage differs between providers.
Depending on the provider and control, routes such as bank transfers, Faster Payments, Open Banking, Direct Debits, e-wallets, cash withdrawals, cryptocurrency, mixed-retailer lottery purchases or incorrectly categorised merchants may not be covered. Check each provider record for verified limitations rather than assuming every limitation applies to every bank.
Showing 19 of 19 providers
Block available
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Banking Group
- Control
- Gambling freeze
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 48 hours
- Setup
- App
Key difference
Monthly gambling limit available
Halifax
Lloyds Banking Group
- Control
- Gambling freeze
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 48 hours
- Setup
- App / Secure chat
Key difference
Monthly limit available
Bank of Scotland
Lloyds Banking Group
- Control
- Gambling freeze
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 48 hours
- Setup
- App
Key difference
Monthly limit available
NatWest
NatWest Group
- Control
- Gambling card control
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 48 hours
- Setup
- App
Key difference
Gambling card control
Royal Bank of Scotland
NatWest Group
- Control
- Gambling card control
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 48 hours
- Setup
- App / Phone / Branch
Key difference
Gambling card control
HSBC UK
Bank
- Control
- Gambling restriction
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 72 hours
- Setup
- App
Key difference
72-hour cooling-off
first direct
HSBC
- Control
- Gambling transactions control
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 72 hours
- Setup
- App
Key difference
72-hour cooling-off
Santander UK
Bank
- Control
- Gambling block / card controls
- Activates
- Immediate for eligible cards
- Removal
- 48 hours
- Setup
- App / Secure chat
Key difference
Gambling block / card controls
Nationwide
Bank
- Control
- Gambling block
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 72 hours
- Setup
- App / Online / Phone / Branch
Key difference
72-hour cooling-off
TSB
Bank
- Control
- TSB Gambling Block
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 48 hours
- Setup
- App / Online / Phone / Branch
Key difference
TSB Gambling Block
Metro Bank
Bank
- Control
- General card freeze
- Activates
- Immediate general card freeze
- Removal
- Not applicable
- Setup
- App
Key difference
General freeze is not a gambling block
Virgin Money
Bank
- Control
- No optional adult block verified
- Activates
- Not applicable
- Removal
- Not applicable
- Setup
- Support guidance
Key difference
Youth M Power restrictions are separate
Monzo
Digital bank
- Control
- Gambling block
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 2 days to 1 year
- Setup
- App
Key difference
Selectable cooling-off period
Starling Bank
Digital bank
- Control
- Gambling block
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 48 hours
- Setup
- App
Key difference
Gambling block
Chase UK
Digital bank
- Control
- Gambling card control
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 48 hours after contacting support
- Setup
- App
Key difference
Contact customer care before removal
Revolut
Digital bank
- Control
- Gambling Block
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- Up to 48 hours
- Setup
- App
Key difference
Gambling Block
Kroo
Digital bank
- Control
- Gambling Block
- Activates
- Immediate
- Removal
- 48 hours
- Setup
- App
Key difference
Gambling Block
Zopa
Digital bank
- Control
- £500 rolling 24-hour gambling limit
- Activates
- Automatic limit
- Removal
- Not applicable
- Setup
- No setup
Key difference
£500 rolling 24-hour gambling limit
Beyond the app toggle
Want stronger controls?
Your bank may have additional controls that are not available as a simple app toggle. If gambling is affecting your finances, ask what extra payment, cash, transfer or borrowing restrictions it can place on your account.
- Lower ATM withdrawal limits
- Lower card spending limits
- Lower bank-transfer limits
- Bills-only arrangements
- Reduced access to additional borrowing
- Representative or trusted-person access
- Merchant-specific blocks
Conversation prompt
I am experiencing gambling-related financial harm and want to put stronger controls on my account. Please tell me what gambling blocks you can apply to my eligible cards, what payment methods those blocks do not cover, and whether you can reduce my cash withdrawal, card spending or bank-transfer limits.
Layering protection
Bank controls work best as one layer
Depending on your circumstances, bank controls can sit alongside self-exclusion, gambling-blocking software and support. Each addresses different routes and none should be treated as complete coverage on its own.