BetBlocker, the gambling harm prevention charity, has unveiled its groundbreaking Scheduler tool, marking a significant evolution in digital support during Safer Gambling Week.
The organization, which uniquely adopts a charitable model to provide free and anonymous software for managing or restricting access to online gambling services, aims to redefine how technology supports responsible play.
Traditionally, blocking software has primarily served as a crisis management resource, utilized only after an individual has experienced unsustainable losses and requires total restriction.
The new Scheduler tool, however, is designed to engage users much earlier in their journey, proactively intervening before a crisis point is reached. This revolutionary feature allows players to plan ahead and construct bespoke, time-based blocks tailored to specific periods of vulnerability or risk.
The Scheduler empowers users to manage their access to gambling in a way that actively promotes healthier engagement.
Examples of its utility include allowing a player to build a weekly profile or customize blocks for specific needs: players concerned about post-payday spending can block the week following their salary deposit; those who get “carried away” with in-play betting can set the block to switch on during major match times; and users who stay up too late gambling can set a digital curfew for work nights.
This launch aligns perfectly with recent findings from GambleAware, which indicated that over five million people in the UK wish to reduce their gambling activity. BetBlocker’s Scheduling feature is specifically targeted at supporting this broad need for partial control and harm minimization.
The tool moves beyond the binary choice of being entirely blocked or not blocked, creating a gradient of support that encourages lower-risk behaviors.
By offering harm minimization functionality alongside its traditional crisis management support, BetBlocker is working to engage an entirely new audience who may not yet be ready to commit to complete abstinence. This proactive intervention holds the potential to see a substantial reduction in overall gambling harm across society.
Duncan Garvie, BetBlocker’s Founder and Managing Trustee:
“To date, blocking software has really only looked to offer support after things have gone too far. It’s critical to provide that support for the people who need it, but it would be far better for everyone if we could reach people earlier and prevent the crisis occurring in the first place.
BetBlocker is proud to innovate and be unique amongst blocking softwares in offering harm minimisation functionality alongside our traditional crisis management support.
Our Scheduling tool looks to meet users where they are, redefining blocking software so that it is no longer a binary choice between blocked or not blocked. In taking this step forwards, we’re hoping to engage an entirely new audience, and reach users who are not yet ready to embrace complete abstinence. There is potential to see a huge reduction in gambling harm across society if we can intervene earlier and support people to embrace lower risk behaviours.”
