About Gamban
Find out about Gamban and discover why we do what we do.
A Brief Overview Of Why We Do What We Do
Going from strength to strength…
Since 2015, Gamban has gone from strength to strength, setting the standard in gambling blocking software. Gamban is the smartest and most effective software for blocking gambling sites and applications. First-hand experience of problem gambling, combined with the most talented minds in the field of self-exclusion software has resulted in the most effective cross-platform solution for creating friction and aiding willpower in the fight against gambling addiction.
Used by thousands of people worldwide, Gamban has received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback, with some users informing the team that it has literally saved lives.
Taking the first step continues to be the hardest challenge and much of our time goes into making Gamban as simple and straightforward to install as possible.
In 2018 GambleAware commissioned independent research to evaluate the effectiveness of blocking software and to compare existing products. Gamban emerged the most effective and, as a result, Gamban has been provided free of charge through all Gamcare support networks in the UK.
In 2018, Gamban was awarded Software Rising Star Award at the EGR B2B Awards and in 2019, Gamban won RegTech Provider of the Year at The GamblingCompliance Global Regulatory Awards.
Ensuring that industry adheres to effective self-exclusion guidelines and adopts practical player protection methodologies is a large part of what makes Gamban and self-exclusion successful.
Gamban is not intended to be a standalone solution and the team continue to work extensively to connect schemes, tools and initiatives, ensuring that recovery from problem gambling is both possible and achievable.
Our Team
Our team are at the core of what we do and have a collective passion for providing the tools needed to help in the fight against addiction.
Our Team
Jack Symons
Founder / CEO
With a background in technology and first-hand experience of problem gambling, Jack brought the most effective gambling-blocking software to the market and now leads the team at Gamban.
Matt Zarb-Cousin
Co-Founder
Matt is a co-founder of Gamban. He campaigned successfully for reform to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and has held high profile positions in politics and social issue campaigns.
Stephen Aupy
VP Strategic Partnerships
Focusing mainly on the US market, Stephen is helping clients in the industry navigate responsible gambling to ensure commercial sustainability and player protection standards. Working in collaboration with operators, suppliers and affiliates, through to banks, research institutions and lobbyists, Stephen continues to accelerate positive change in emerging gambling markets.
James Forman
Business Intelligence Officer & Customer Experience
Supporting clients across industry, banking and treatment providers, James guides distributors with training, insight and support, navigating and enabling self-exclusion best practice.
Melissa Etherington
Business Development
Melissa works with governmental bodies, treatment support providers and commercial organisations guiding on distribution and strategy in online gambling self-exclusion best practice, enhancing and improving protection for at-risk problem gamblers.
Emil Jankowski
Customer Operations Manager
Handling a variety of customer requests before, during and after installation, ranging from general to technical questions, Emil continues to provide a high standard of customer support.
Jon Zarate Andres
Senior Android Developer
Jon, who started working as an Android developer by chance, now focuses on developing the new Gamban Android app.
Nick Michalopoulos
Research & Development
Nick maintains quality control standards to preserve the integrity of data and findings of surveys and interviews, which are then analysed and summarized in reports. Alongside this, he is responsible for Gamban's certification processes.
John Giannakidis
Backend Developer & SysAdmin
Occupied with various technical aspects, primarily focused on developing the services that lie at the core of Gamban. Devoted to continuously improving our product. Not to blame for bugs or outages you might experience.
Edgars Judovics
Software Developer
Windows and Mac Gamban maintainer. Likes to see sharp. In his free time, Edgar enjoys following developing tech trends and other computer related matters.
Michael Tugby
Full Stack Developer
Focusing primarily on the development of the website, Michael aims to create intuitive user experiences, using his knowledge of modern web technologies.
Babak Rezai
Junior Full Stack Developer
Predominately focused on iOS (Apple), Babak's challenge has been to realise the most effective and non-intrusive gambling-blocking concepts within the confines of Apple's ecosystem.
Joana Castanheiro
Customer Support Adviser
With ample experience in customer facing roles, Joana is a member of the Customer Support team, dedicated to providing excellent customer service and technical support.
David Frampton
Product Development Manager
Wholly focused on the continuous improvement and development of the Gamban product for both the B2C & B2B markets, David has an expansive and versatile background in user experience (UX) & design.
Orfeas Zafeiris
Technology Lead
Orfeas leads and coordinates technology development efforts with the goal of maintaining a high quality of service for our end-users and constantly improving the Gamban offering and operational efficiency.
Mike Wall
Digital Marketing Manager
A highly driven and creative Digital Marketing professional with strong experience in PPC, SEO and campaign management. Working alongside industry professionals, delivering marketing campaigns, to grow awareness of support tools for problem gamblers and help organisations improve sustainability.
Daiana Sol D'Urso
Customer Outreach Manager
Heading up Gamban’s marketing and outreach efforts in Spanish speaking markets, Daiana is dedicated to developing and enhancing new and existing partnerships to increase the awareness and distribution of Gamban across all Spanish markets.
Advisory Board
Bill Pascrell III
With a prominent career in state and federal public affairs, William J. Pascrell, III, more commonly known as BPIII, is a lobbyist with PPAG – Princeton Public Affairs Group. Additionally BPIII is a Trustee of the GVC Foundation US, Founder, Board Member & Faculty of the Seton Hall University Law School’s Gaming, Compliance & Integrity Bootcamp, Board Member of Freedom Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the United Way and served as President of the prestigious North Jersey Country Club from 2016-2019. In the gaming sector, BPIII has been a lawyer, strategic advisor and consultant throughout the US, Canada, Israel, Europe, South America and Australia.
Maris (Bonello) Catania
Maris occupies the role of Head of Responsible Gaming and Research at Kindred. She started as a Risk & Fraud Analyst with Kindred and after receiving her Psychology MSc from the University of Leicester, took on the role of Responsible Gaming Manager. She has a Diploma in Gambling Addiction Counselling and Psychology, and is now reading for her PhD, focusing primarily on the analysis of the early signs of online problem gambling, responsible gaming tools and responsible gaming promotion. Maris has also been awarded the Gambling Compliance Most Significant Contribution to Responsible Gambling Research for three consecutive years.
Derek Webb
Derek Webb is a philanthropist, supporting individuals, organisations and politicians who share his aspiration to reduce gambling related harm. Derek was a professional poker player, and is an expert in gambling regulation and game design, inventing Three Card Poker, 21+3 and proprietary blackjack side bets. Having succeeded in complex litigation he retired from commercial gaming activity in 2011 and supports Gamban in an advisory and philanthropic capacity.
Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, PC
Jody is the CEO at The Better Institute, a counseling, coaching and consulting practice in Pittsburgh, PA, US. She delivers workshops, trainings, webinars and keynote speeches for the mental health, addiction, and technology industries. She serves as a board member of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), Vice President of the Board for International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB), and member of the National Speaker Association (NSA) Pittsburgh chapter. Jody holds a Master Degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration, and is a graduate of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Coaching Certification Program at Duquesne University’s School of Leadership and Professional Advancement.
Dan Waugh
Dan is a partner at the advisory firm, Regulus Partners. He has written extensively on matters of harm prevention and gambling regulation. He is a member of the GamCare Safer Gambling Standard review panel and was founding chair (2015 to 2017) of the youth education charity, YGAM. Prior to joining Regulus Partners, Dan spent 15 years working in the leisure and hospitality industry - including senior management positions with Whitbread PLC and then with The Rank Group Plc.
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