The regulated betting and gaming trade is becoming a member of forces as soon as once more for Safer Gambling Week 2021.
This yr’s occasion will run from November 1-7 and can see the Betting and Gaming Council, the Bingo Association and bacta – the amusement machine commerce affiliation – coming collectively in a renewed drive to champion larger requirements.
The annual marketing campaign has been working since 2017, when the trade united for the primary time to advertise Responsible Gambling Week.
Once once more, this yr’s occasion will see a blitz of safer playing messages each on-line and in land-based venues, sparking a nationwide dialog on easy methods to wager responsibly.
Last yr’s occasion was an enormous success, regardless of the pandemic inflicting the closure of betting outlets, casinos, bingo golf equipment and amusement arcades throughout the UK.
The variety of social media impressions – the place somebody noticed a submit associated to Safer Gambling Week 2020 – hit 19 million, a rise of 19 per cent on the earlier yr. And the variety of classes on the Safer Gambling Week web site throughout final yr’s marketing campaign was 18 per cent larger than the yr earlier than.
Meanwhile, operators additionally reported a rise within the variety of prospects utilizing safer playing instruments resembling setting deposit limits and self-exclusion – proof of the actual cut-through Safer Gambling Week has among the many basic inhabitants.
Every arm of the regulated betting and gaming trade will come collectively to encourage employees, prospects and most people to lift consciousness of, and to speak about, safer playing.
Regulated betting and gaming operators already work tirelessly all yr spherical to advertise safer playing, together with by encouraging deposit limits and time-outs, in addition to directing prospects to the vary of self-exclusion companies that exist.
Safer Gambling Week offers a chance to go even additional by encouraging companies and organisations to start out a dialog, not solely with employees and prospects, but additionally with their family and friends.
Michael Dugher, chief government of the BGC, mentioned: “As the requirements physique representing the regulated betting and gaming trade, the BGC is delighted to assist Safer Gambling Week 2021.
“Last yr’s occasion was an enormous success regardless of the pandemic and, with the prospect of betting outlets and casinos being open when this yr’s takes place, I’m certain Safer Gambling Week 2021 shall be even higher.
“Our members already exhibit their dedication to safer playing by means of issues like elevated funding for analysis, schooling and remedy, the whistle to whistle ban on TV betting commercials throughout stay sport and strict ID and age verification checks.
“During the pandemic, we now have additionally seen the variety of safer playing messages on betting web sites greater than double, whereas direct interventions the place prospects have been spending extra money and time betting than earlier than Covid have elevated by 25 per cent.
“Safer Gambling Week is a superb alternative to focus on this implausible work – and emphasises the distinction between the regulated trade and the unlicensed and unlawful on-line black market, which has not one of the safeguards that are commonplace amongst our members.”
Miles Baron, chief government, The Bingo Association, mentioned: “Safer Gambling Week is a vital a part of the bingo trade’s dedication to social accountability and offers a helpful focus for highlighting exercise and assist that’s out there all year long. As venue-based companies, the sector recognises the vital alternative we now have to advertise safer playing messages and have interaction immediately with prospects.”
John White, chief government, bacta, mentioned: “Safer Gambling Week as soon as once more permits the trade to showcase its year-long dedication to safer playing. It additionally brings buyer focus to the instruments which might be out there to them in the event that they in anyway really feel their playing is turning into problematic. Those instruments proceed to develop as we be taught extra about safer playing and type a part of our ambition to cement social accountability on the coronary heart of our provide to the buyer.”
Existing registered marketing campaign supporters have already acquired affirmation of the dates for this yr’s occasion and can obtain additional updates from Safer Gambling Week organisers as info and supplies change into out there.
Organisations looking for info on Safer Gambling Week 2021, or easy methods to change into a registered supporter, ought to go to the Safer Gambling Week web page (www.safergamblingweek.org) or the Safer Gambling UK web page (www.safergamblinguk.org). The web sites are key info factors for safer playing sources and knowledge and for Safer Gambling Week 2021.
Safer Gambling Week 2021 social media channels are additionally stay: @SGWeek21 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram #SGWeek21.
