FAQs
GamScore is designed to help bettors better understand, manage and improve their gambling health.
Recent media coverage has focused heavily on affordability checks and operator compliance. While those topics are relevant to the wider gambling ecosystem, GamScore’s primary purpose is to empower bettors.
GamScore gives bettors a clearer view of their gambling activity across multiple operators, helping them to:
- Enhance overall visibility of betting behaviour across multiple accounts
- Track spending patterns over time
- Consolidate betting information including betting literacy, financial literacy and safer gambling
- Identify harmful habits early
- Potentially reduce the friction caused by repeated checks and requests
- Demonstrate betting health in a secure, controlled way when needed (if the user choses to share this with an operator)
- Embrace a sustainable and more transparent betting experience
What is a GamScore?
The score is designed to be an indicator of betting health. The score will be generated initially from the user’s banking data.
A good score will be dependent on;
- A balance between discretionary income and betting spend
- Setting and sustaining an appropriate betting budget
- Consistency of betting behaviours
- Engagement with app content
How does GamScore use Open Banking?
GamScore uses Open Banking to give the user an indication of their betting health.
By analysing deposit and withdrawal information across multiple operators, it gives users an overview of their total betting P&L.
It can analyse users’ income and spending to help calculate disposable income and help users set safe budgets. It is important to know that as a consumer-controlled product, our goal is to ensure that you are never required to share intrusive personal data directly with your operator(s).
Will users need Open Banking to use the app?
Users will get more out of the app if they do.
Open Banking technology is used by numerous products and services already trusted by millions of consumers across banking, payments and financial services (16.5m UK users)
GamScore will use this same methodology to provide insight to a user’s activity. Without Open Banking that insight will not possible, but the app’s information resources will still be available.
Will users need to provide access to all accounts to get all the features?
If users only provide partial information, they will only get partial insight e.g. identifying disposable income to generate a score or recommend a budget.
Do you need to link your GamScore account to your bookmaker accounts?
We are exploriing the possibility of enabling users to link GamScore to their bookmaker accounts, but this will be in the users’ control. Ultimately, we believe there will be value for the user in doing so.
At no point will linking your account to an operator give them access to a user’s Open Banking data.
It is not designed to be big brother for operators to check behaviours on a daily basis.
What data is shared with operators?
No data is shared with operators without explicit user consent.
Consumers will always remain in control of what permissions are granted.
The important distinction is that:
- Data sharing is permission-based with consumer privacy at its core
- Only a very limited subset of clearly defined data will ever be shared
- The goal is to minimise friction and improve customer experience
- GamScore is designed to benefit the bettor, not just operators
We can say that GamScore will not divulge;
- Unrestricted access to a customer’s bank account
- Detailed information on what users are spending their money on
- Excessive information on income
Is GamScore an affordability check tool?
GamScore is first and foremost a betting health and consumer empowerment app.
However, because GamScore creates a clearer financial picture using verified banking data, users may be able to minimise friction with operators by choosing to share data with them.
Our aim is for a GamScore to be accepted by the UKGC as a marker of betting health.
Is this a “single customer view”?
GamScore allows bettors to see a broader picture of their own activity in one place, but the operators and regulators do not have access to this data. GamScore will never share multi operator data, it is designed to show overall betting health and consistency of behaviours.
Will operators see how much I bet elsewhere?
No.
Will operators see how many betting accounts I have?
No.
How is customer data protected?
GamScore will be FCA registered and be compliant with the same data protections used for online banking.
Key protections include:
- Customer consent requirements
- Encrypted data transmission
- Secure regulated APIs
- Strong authentication processes
- Strict access controls
- Regulatory oversight
- Data minimisation principles
GamScore does not have access to any online banking passwords or login credentials.
What is the issue with the black market for consumers?
One of the reasons cited by many, for consumers to move to the black market, is frustration with repeated checks and friction across multiple licensed operators.
The growth of the gambling black market is a serious concern for both consumers and regulators.
The risks of engaging with black market operators are as follows.
- Financial Loss and Fraud – unfair gaming practices, low return to player rates and blocked withdrawals are all regular occurrences on black market sites
- Lack of Consumer Protection – responsible gaming tools, secure payment systems or appropriate dispute resolution schemes are all non-existent and targeting of vulnerable customers is commonplace, including minors
- Money Laundering and Crime – proceeds of crime are often cleaned through black market operators and consumers can inadvertently become involved if source of funds are requested
- Identity Theft and Data Protection – serious data protection concerns, with high risk of identity theft and personal information being shared, misused or sold
Who is GamScore aimed at?
GamScore is designed primarily for everyday bettors who want:
- A clearer understanding of their betting habits
- More control over gambling spend
- Better visibility across multiple betting accounts
- Minimised friction when interacting with operators
- A simpler and safer betting experience
It is not designed to stop people gambling. It is designed to help people gamble more safely and with better information.
GamScore may also help:
- Recreational bettors
- High-frequency bettors
- Customers frustrated by repetitive checks
- Consumers who want a single view of their gambling activity
- Operators seeking better consumer protection tools
What is the benefit for Operators?
Gamscore can provide operators with improved connectivity to the bettor and assist with regulatory compliance requirements, such as social responsibility, AML and a bettor’s financial and betting health, without the need for intrusive documentation requests.
- Better aware, empowered, and sustainable consumer base
- Enhanced commitment to social responsibility and improved consumer relationships
- Reduced compliance time and costs
- Increased customer retention due to reduced friction and need for intrusive documentation
- Improved regulatory compliance
How often does GamScore update?
GamScore updates 4 time a day. Regular updates help provide a more accurate and up-to-date picture of financial and gambling activity.
Regular updates help provide a more accurate and up-to-date picture of financial and gambling activity.
This benefits users because:
- Insights are more accurate
- Changes in behaviour can be identified earlier
- Spending patterns remain current
- Consumers receive more relevant information
The intention is to improve accuracy and minimise friction – not to monitor customers continuously.
How often does GamScore share data?
If a user gives permission for their data to be shared with an operator, GamScore would make that data available only when the operator had flagged the user for a check. This should not be a frequent occurrence. Data will only be shared when the customer has agreed and this permission can be withdrawn at any time.
Is pulling data multiple times per day standard in Open Banking?
Frequent data refreshes are common across many Open Banking applications and financial services.
Who else uses Open Banking?
Open Banking is already widely used across financial services.
- Monzo and Starling Bank for account aggregation and financial management
- Revolut for payments and connected banking services
- ClearScore and Credit Karma for credit insights and financial products
- Plum and Moneybox for automated saving and budgeting tools
- Snoop and Emma for budgeting and spend tracking
Mortgage brokers and lenders using Open Banking for income and affordability verification
What is the adoption rate of Open Banking?
Open Banking adoption in the UK has grown rapidly.
Millions of consumers and small businesses now use Open Banking-enabled services. Usage continues to increase year-on-year across banking, lending, payments and financial management.
The technology has moved from an emerging innovation to a mainstream part of financial infrastructure.
What are Open Banking take-up rates across different groups?
Open Banking adoption tends to be strongest among:
- Digitally engaged consumers
- Younger demographics
- Users already comfortable with fintech apps
- Consumers seeking convenience and automation
Can I control or revoke access?
Consumers remain completely in control of their permissions and can revoke access at any time.
Any permission given will last for a maximum of three months so will not persist if a user becomes dormant.
How much will GamScore cost?
The aim is to make the app free for users, but this will require support from either the betting industry or changes to the betting levy funding rules.