HSBC announces extension of gambling block feature to 72 hours Share April 16, 2021 HSBC UK has confirmed that the cooling off period for its gambling block feature has been extended from 24 hours to 72 hours. The announcement follows the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) revelation that there has been a month-on-month increase of 29% in gross gambling yield (GGY) and a 7% increase in active accounts. Maxine Pritchard, Head of Financial Inclusion and Vulnerability at HSBC UK said: “This is a challenging time for many of our customers, with some not working and perhaps facing financial difficulty. By increasing the restriction to 72 hours, this will help give our customers time to pause when they are tempted to return to gambling.