The gambling harm prevention charity said usage in Syria has been increasing as it expands multilingual access across Europe and neighbouring regions.
 

Key Points

BetBlocker has launched Syrian Arabic language support for its gambling blocking software

The rollout forms part of preparations linked to a proposed partnership with a European regulator

Immigrant and displaced communities are considered at higher risk of gambling harm due to barriers accessing support services
 

BetBlocker has expanded its gambling harm prevention services with the launch of Syrian Arabic language support, as the charity continues to broaden access for minority and displaced communities across Europe and the Middle East.

The organisation said the rollout was prioritised during work connected to a proposed partnership with a European regulatory agency. BetBlocker stated that the update was intended to support Syrian diaspora communities living in neighbouring countries and across Europe following years of displacement caused by the Syrian conflict.

The launch comes as regulators and public health organisations across Europe place increasing emphasis on accessibility and multilingual support within gambling harm prevention services. 

Research from several European health agencies has previously identified migrant and refugee communities as groups that may face elevated gambling-related risks because of social isolation, financial pressures and reduced access to local treatment networks. 

BetBlocker, which offers free software designed to block gambling websites and applications across desktop and mobile devices, has expanded its localisation strategy steadily over the past year. 

The charity has introduced additional language options including Slovakian and Ukrainian while working alongside regulators, national helplines and harm prevention bodies in several European markets.

Founder and Trustee Duncan Garvie said: “This project offers similar opportunities. Where extending our support to Syrian Arabic both allows us to submit a more competitive tender to an EU regulator, whilst simultaneously expanding our support to a country/population that currently has very limited options for people experiencing gambling harm.”

Garvie added that uptake in Syria had been “climbing rapidly” ahead of the latest rollout.

The expansion also reflects broader industry and regulatory discussions around digital harm prevention tools. Several European regulators have increased scrutiny of responsible gambling requirements over the past two years, with blocking software, self-exclusion systems and behavioural monitoring tools forming part of wider consumer protection frameworks.

Charities and treatment providers have meanwhile continued to warn that language accessibility remains a significant barrier for vulnerable communities seeking support services, particularly in markets with large migrant populations.

BetBlocker has increasingly focused on partnerships with regulators and public health organisations as part of its operational model, particularly as gambling harm funding structures evolve in the UK and Europe.

Earlier this year, BetBlocker confirmed it had secured levy funding support in England following approval from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. The charity said the funding would support delivery of its free blocking software while also expanding its wider international localisation strategy. 

 

 

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