Why did Starling block me from purchasing a EuroMillions price tag and lock my checking account for 2 days?

I made up our minds to shop for a £2.50 EuroMillions price tag closing week however my cost would not undergo, so I contacted my financial institution, Starling.

It mentioned the EuroMillions price tag could not be purchased as a result of I’ve a playing block on my account, which is one thing I do not ever recall inquiring for.

I requested Starling to raise it and its customer support consultant mentioned it was once accomplished however that my account was once now blocked for 2 days – and there was once no strategy to opposite this.

Is this proper, it sort of feels a bit of harsh for a lottery price tag?

Jane Denton, of This is Money, replies: The EuroMillions bumper jackpot has reached dizzying heights in fresh weeks – together with hitting £208million closing Friday.

That wasn’t received and the document breaking sum is nonetheless up for grabs this night (Tuesday 10 June 2025).

It is noteworthy you don’t recall inquiring for the financial institution’s playing block to be switched on to your account. 

I contacted Starling Bank about your query and its spokesman pointed me to the financial institution’s playing coverage on its website online. 

On Starling’s website online, playing is outlined as involving an individual making a bet cash or one thing of price in opposition to an consequence that’s not inside of their keep an eye on, within the hope of successful cash or some roughly praise.  

Betting on sports activities, horse racing or different carrying occasions constitutes playing, Starling mentioned. 

Betting at a on line casino, enjoying slots or the usage of an digital playing system also are playing, it provides.

‘Games designed for playing’, similar to bingo, blackjack or poker, additionally fall in scope for the definition of playing, Starling mentioned.  

Crucially to your case, the next additionally, in line with Starling, constitutes playing: ‘Playing quick win video games or purchasing a lottery price tag.’ 

Starling is fairly proper to indicate that damaging playing is a major factor that may motive other folks to lose keep an eye on and convey hurt to themselves or others round them. 

A Starling spokesman advised This is Money: ‘Starling Bank was once the primary UK financial institution to introduce a playing block. 

‘We did this with a purpose to lend a hand offer protection to our consumers. Our playing block is precisely what it seems like. 

‘If you flip it on, you received’t be capable to make bills along with your card to maximum playing traders – on-line or in individual – this contains the EuroMillions. 

‘When consumers flip the block on, the app permits them to know that they’ll have to attend 48 hours to gamble once more – beginning after they flip the block off. We additionally allow them to know that it’s now not imaginable to override this extend.’

On its website online, Starling means that you would have to transfer at the playing block to ensure that it to paintings. I’m now not certain how or why it is been switched on on your case. 

Starling’s website online does state its playing block won’t forestall all ‘gambling-related bills’, together with buying a lottery price tag at a grocery store or newsagent, putting a raffle on a website that’s not categorized as a playing service provider, or playing subscriptions which are paid by means of direct debit sooner bills or financial institution transfers. 

I word you needed to wait 48 hours to so as to purchase a lottery price tag after the playing block was once switched off. This intended that you must now not purchase a EuroMillions price tag for Friday in time. 

While inconvenient for you, the 48-hour duration is geared toward serving to save you other folks with a playing drawback from making impulse bets. 

I believe you might have been left questioning what existence would had been like with greater than £208million within the financial institution. Unless you defy the entire odds this night, you’ll have to contemplate a short while longer.  

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