As Finland and Norway grapple with gambling-related harm, Gamban is stepping up its efforts to provide accessible, practical solutions. In this interview with Casino Guru News, Gamban Co-Founder Matt Zarb-Cousin discusses the company’s recent expansion into Finnish and Norwegian, emphasizing that "language should never be a barrier to accessing help."

He explains the importance of local partnerships, the value of layering self-exclusion tools, and how lived experience continues to shape Gamban’s mission. With these updates, Gamban is doubling down on its commitment to support individuals on their recovery journey—no matter where they are or what language they speak.

Q: Gamban has recently introduced both Norwegian and Finland to the number of languages supported by the company software. What has prompted you to expand into these specific languages?

Gambling is deeply embedded in both Finland and Norway, and despite significant efforts to mitigate gambling harm, many individuals are unaware of practical tools that can help them quit. In Finland, for example, gambling remains widespread, and in Norway, unlicensed gambling sites continue to pose a risk to vulnerable individuals.

By introducing Gamban in Finnish and Norwegian, we’re making it easier for people in these countries to take back control by making the decision to quit without language standing in their way.

Language should never be a barrier to accessing help. By introducing Finnish and Norwegian to Gamban, we’re ensuring that more people in these countries can access the tools they need. We hope this update makes the process of blocking gambling on devices more intuitive and effective.

We want to make Gamban as accessible as possible in all jurisdictions, which means free at the point of self-exclusion and without any language barrier

Q: You have set out to collaborate with respected local companies, which are still monopolies locally – Veikkaus in Finland and Norsk Tipping in Norway. Do you expect to strike similar partnerships with more companies once the markets transition to a license-based model?

We want to make Gamban free at the point of self-exclusion, so if more operators are present in a particular market then we would hope to partner with the multi operator self-exclusion provider.

Q: How important is it to consumers to have access to tools such as Gamban, and what do you think you bring in terms of player protection that other companies have failed to offer?

If you want to quit online gambling, then layering up Gamban with self-exclusion is extremely important as this not only underwrites the efficacy of self-exclusion but blocks a user’s access to black market sites. Within our app we also guide users to different resources such as gambling transaction blocking with banks as well as localised treatment providers. The lived experience of the founders has been at the heart of Gamban’s product development and no matter where you are in your recovery journey, Gamban is here to support you.

Q:As Finland is only now transitioning to a fully-regulated market based on individual licensees, what do you think some of the main challenges will be for player protection services such as Gamban?

Through our partnership with Veikkaus, the government-owned betting operator, fully paid-for Gamban licenses are available to customers, including those who may show signs of risky behavior. Veikkaus has built a robust safer gambling environment, and Gamban is a crucial part of that framework. We would hope that there is no gap in service provision in the transition to a fully regulated market with individual licensees, so that Gamban remains free in Finland while the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme is being set up, and thereafter.

Q:How would Gamban gauge the success of its efforts in Finland and Norway in the coming months?

Distribution of Gamban licenses has been increasing consistently, even before the translations were implemented. License volumes are obviously bittersweet given every Gamban user is someone who has been harmed by gambling, but it is a positive that we are helping them quit and that they have made that decision. Anyone doing so should be supported with the best possible tools to assist them.

By adding Finnish and Norwegian, we now support seven languages: English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese, Finnish, and Norwegian. This expansion is a vital step in our mission to make our services available to as many people as possible, ensuring that help is always available, no matter where you are or what language you speak.

Q:What do you hope to achieve with these two respective launches?

Unfortunately, Gambling harm affects millions of individuals across Europe, and we want to make it as easy as possible for individuals to take control of their gambling habits and start their journey toward recovery.

We recognize the importance of providing tools that are easy to access and use - especially when those tools are available in a person’s native language. By adding Finnish and Norwegian, we’re removing language barriers and ensuring that even more people can access Gamban’s trusted gambling-blocking solution.

We want to be there for as many people as possible who need us, for as long as they need us, with as few barriers to access as possible.

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