In a GamCare-hosted workshop, the charity brought together 45 representatives from financial services and people who have suffered gambling harm.
The idea of the workshop was to discuss ways the industry can improve gambling blocks; in recent years, UK banks have introduced gambling blocks to stop payments from bank accounts to operators.
However, with the rise of non-card transactions, GameCare raised the issue that customers are able to find a loophole around these blocks.
GamCare recommended that blocks around new payment methods should be introduced by companies that offer these services; for example, e-wallet providers should apply gambling blocks similar to ones UK banks have implemented.
In addition, the charity also said a central registry should be created to block faster payment methods. The registry would include bank account details associated with gambling operators which can be used by financial services.
Raminta Diliso, Financial Harm Manager at GamCare, said: “Year on year, around 70% of callers to our National Gambling Helpline mention some level of gambling debt and financial hardship.
"For those trying to stop gambling, banking blocks offer an invaluable layer of protection; but people that use our services have reported that they have managed to circumvent the blocks.
“While different payment methods offered by gambling operators give a lot of flexibility for consumers, it can also leave them vulnerable to gambling harm when these payment methods are not subject to gambling blocks."
