As Safer Gambling Week gets underway, open banking payments provider Yaspa has released new survey findings that shed light on public sentiment around gambling support and the industry’s evolving approach to affordability.
According to the research, 72% of bettors — defined as anyone who has placed at least one bet in the past year — believe that support for individuals with gambling concerns has improved. Confidence was even higher among the most active betting groups, including e-sports (80%), boxing (79%), tennis (79%) and football bettors (77%).
Across the wider UK population, 61% of respondents agreed support has improved. However, just half of non-bettors shared that view, highlighting a clear perception gap between those engaged in betting and those outside the ecosystem. 
Demographics also played a role: confidence peaked among 35–44 year-olds (69%), while men (65%) were more likely than women (56%) to feel support has progressed.
As the industry continues to advance responsible gambling initiatives, Yaspa emphasises that real-time affordability and preventative measures are becoming central to future player protection. The company’s Intelligent Payments solution uses open banking technology to allow operators — with player consent — to access verified financial data for more accurate affordability checks. This removes friction in onboarding while supporting more proactive harm-prevention strategies.
Renuka Rawlings, Head of Policy & Public Affairs at Yaspa, said:
“It’s encouraging to see both bettors and the broader public acknowledging improvements in available support. But awareness is only one component. The next step is leveraging technology to strengthen prevention. Open banking enables operators to move from reactive interventions to proactive protection, ensuring customers can bet safely and sustainably.”
