The HSBC bank appears to be extending its policy decision to exclude the gaming and gambling business from its services.

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In July the bank began to inform some bookmakers that, despite their good standing as customers at local level, the bank was withdrawing its coverage of their sector.

They were invited to seek banking services elsewhere. Now it has come to InterGame’s attention that one individual involved in the casino sector has similarly been contacted by the bank.

After many years as a customer of the bank and its forebears, he has been told that he has 60 days to find alternative banking arrangements before his account is forcibly closed.

It may not be the only incident concerning individuals or companies within the casino sector.

This case applied to a UK resident and, after InterGame contacted the HSBC London press office, it remains unclear whether it is a global decision applying to all parts of the world.

The letter to the UK resident in question said that “following a recent strategic review of our exposure to the gaming and gambling sector, we have concluded that this will not be an area of focus for HSBC.”

The spokesman for HSBC told InterGame that the bank was going to “limit” its exposure to gambling, but was unable to define “limit” in this instance. He added: “We will treat each case on its merits.”

The spokesman was also keen to emphasise that reports that HSBC would not honour debit card payments to gambling companies by individual customers were inaccurate.