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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Christos Sittas

Customer Support Advisor

Christos actively helps individuals to learn more about the functionalities of Gamban and assists users with enquiries, concerns, and software issues. Striving constantly to provide the most effective and friendly customer support 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Advisory Board

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.