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Guide to Block Online Transactions in the UK



The latest data provided by Statista shows that the number of fraudulent transactions on cards issued in the UK reached over 285 million British pounds in 2022. This proves that no matter what security measures banks and card issuers use, there is still a risk of unauthorised transactions. So, what are the possible solutions and how GamStop can help?

The leading banks and financial institutions enable you to turn on and off the function to pay online at bookies in the UK that are not on GamStop or others with a single click. This is one way to be confident that your cards are not being used online without you knowing about it. 

Blocking or deactivating online transactions differs for each bank. So, we are here to break down the steps and details of freezing payments using the top UK banks as an example. Let's have a look.

HSBC Holdings PLC

HSBC is one of the pioneers in the financial segment of the UK, being in the field for more than 150 years. Currently, the bank supports over 42 million corporate, personal and wealth customers in 62 territories and countries.

Many players try to stop gambling transactions with HSBC because GamStop doesn't always work well, especially when players have access to casinos not on GamStop. Non-GamStop gambling sites have internal self-exclusion tools, but some players need more tools to control their gambling habits. So HBSC gambling block is one of the most effective features.

To provide a safe payment experience to all its users, HSBC utilizes many security tools and practices, such as gambling transaction restrictions and card freezes. If you want to deactivate all your online payments temporarily, you can do so from the app or online banking platform. Here, let's examine the process for both options.

Freezing Payments Through the App

  1. Open your HSBC mobile app and sign into your account.
  2. Choose the account the card belongs to.
  3. Now, tap “View More” and click the “Manage Cards” button.
  4. Here, you will see the Freeze or Unfreeze card option. Select the slider to freeze to block your transactions. It will remain active until you decide to remove it.

Freezing Payments Through Online Banking

  1. Open the HSBC online banking platform and sign in.
  2. Pick the account the card belongs to and then click “Manage”.
  3. From the Menu section, opt for “Block or Unblock Card”.
  4. Choose the card you want to block and confirm by tapping “Block This Card”.

The temporary block will remain on your cards until you either report it stolen or lost or unfreeze your card. Blocking will also affect most of your online and contactless payments. In addition, you can manage gaming-related spending on any of your debit cards by enabling gambling restrictions. You can turn on this function through this scheme: Log In > View More > Manage Cards > Gambling Restrictions > Turn On.

Lloyds Banking Group PLC

Lloyds is the next popular banking group among leading financial services in the UK. It delivers an extensive range of financial and banking services, with the main focus being on commercial and retail customers.

The bank group allows all users struggling with a spending habit to block specific transactions with Lloyds such as online or remote purchases and gambling. You also have an opportunity to deactivate payments abroad as well as in-person and contactless transactions on debit and credit cards. But how do you get all these done? Just follow the guide below:

  1. Log into your Lloyd banking app.
  2. Pick the “Manage Card” option at the bottom of the page.
  3. Once there, opt for “Card Freezes and Limits”.
  4. Now, choose the card for the transactions you want to block and toggle on or off for various freeze options. You can also set contactless and gambling limits here with just a tap.

One thing to note is that card freezes at Lloyd mainly depend on when and how transactions are processed. Some transfers can be processed instantly, while others, for example, online retailers or public transport services, can take time to proceed. The transaction may be stopped if you enable your card to freeze before processing the payment.

Barclays PLC

Barclays Plc is another big figure in the UK financial industry, the customers of which can easily block or freeze their online transactions. To control your spending and protect yourself from unauthorized payments, you can use the bank's app and block debit card transactions to certain types of merchants. These may be restaurants, premium-rate sites and phone lines, diesel and petrol companies, supermarkets, pubs, as well as gambling platforms. Simply follow the steps we outlined below to manage the retailers to which you can make payments.

  1. Sign into your online banking account.
  2. Press “Your Cards” under the “Quick Links” section.
  3. Choose the debit card on which you want to restrict payments.
  4. Click “Merchant Control”.
  5. Now, pick all the categories you would like to block, including gambling.
  6. Use the toggle to turn the specific Merchant.

This is simple. In the future, you can remove the block of your transactions whenever you want. To do that, follow the guide above, and in the last step, use the toggle to turn off a certain merchant.

Standard Chartered PLC

Are you a Standard Chartered customer? Then you can take advantage of the bank's feature to temporarily disable your online transactions instantly whenever you need them. Here are the main steps you will need to take to block your payments.

  1. Give a call to the bank's Client Care Hotline through the number +65 6747 7000.
  2. Choose option 9 from the primary menu.
  3. Type in your 16-digit credit/debit card number or 6-digit NRIC number.
  4. Pass the second level authentication through SMS OTP (one-time password) or via Voice Biometrics.
  5. Tap 1 to confirm your request.

Right after, you will receive a notification about a successful block of your digital payments. To remove the block and reactivate your card transactions, you will need to go to one of SC's branches in person. Also, Standard Chartered, like other banks on this list, enables the restriction of gambling transactions.

NatWest Group PLC


NatWest, or National Westminster Bank, has been serving UK customers since 1968. With its large network of 960+ branches with over 7.5 million personnel and 850,000 small business accounts, NatWest is considered one of the Big Four clearing banks in the country. You can block your online transactions at NatWest Bank or freeze your debit card through its online banking platform. All you are required to do is:

  1. Sign into your banking account.
  2. Choose “Cards” from the primary menu.
  3. Opt for the “Freeze or Unfreeze Card” option in the “Manage Your Debit Card” section.
  4. Choose the card you want to block transactions on and tap “Freeze Card”

After these steps, you will be able to stop any online payments or cash withdrawals being made with your debit card. NatWest also enables you to use the gambling restriction tool by blocking all gaming transactions processed through your cards.


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