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 will see the Betting and Gaming Council, the Bingo Association and bacta – the amusement machine commerce affiliation – coming collectively in a renewed drive to champion increased requirements.
The annual marketing campaign has been working since 2017, when the trade united for the primary time to promote 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 how to wager responsibly.
Last yr’s occasion was an enormous success, regardless of the pandemic inflicting the closure of betting retailers, casinos, bingo golf equipment and amusement arcades throughout the UK.
The variety of social media impressions – the place somebody noticed a put up associated to Safer Gambling Week 2020 – hit 19 million, a rise of 19 per cent on the earlier yr. And the variety of periods on the Safer Gambling Week web site throughout final yr’s marketing campaign was 18 per cent increased than the yr earlier than.
Meanwhile, operators additionally reported a rise within the variety of clients utilizing safer playing instruments reminiscent of setting deposit limits and self-exclusion – proof of the actual cut-through Safer Gambling Week has among the many normal inhabitants.
Every arm of the regulated betting and gaming trade will come collectively to encourage employees, clients and most people to elevate consciousness of, and to speak about, safer playing.
Regulated betting and gaming operators already work tirelessly all yr spherical to promote safer playing, together with by encouraging deposit limits and time-outs, in addition to directing clients to the vary of self-exclusion companies that exist.
Safer Gambling Week offers a possibility to go even additional by encouraging companies and organisations to begin a dialog, not solely with employees and clients, but in addition with their associates and household.
Michael Dugher, chief govt 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 retailers and casinos being open when this yr’s takes place, I’m positive Safer Gambling Week 2021 can be even higher.
“Our members already display their dedication to safer playing by way of issues like elevated funding for analysis, training and therapy, the whistle to whistle ban on TV betting commercials throughout stay sport and strict ID and age verification checks.
“During the pandemic, now we have additionally seen the variety of safer playing messages on betting web sites greater than double, whereas direct interventions the place clients have been spending extra time and cash betting than earlier than Covid have elevated by 25 per cent.
“Safer Gambling Week is a good alternative to spotlight this incredible 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 govt, 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 point of interest for highlighting exercise and assist that’s accessible all year long. As venue-based companies, the sector recognises the vital alternative now we have to promote safer playing messages and interact immediately with clients.”
John White, chief govt, 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 are accessible to them in the event that they in anyway really feel their playing is changing into problematic. Those instruments proceed to develop as we study extra about safer playing and kind 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 will obtain additional updates from Safer Gambling Week organisers as data and supplies change into accessible.
Organisations searching for data on Safer Gambling Week 2021, or how to change into a registered supporter, ought to go to the Safer Gambling Week site (www.safergamblingweek.org) or the Safer Gambling UK site (www.safergamblinguk.org). The web sites are key data factors for safer playing sources and data and for Safer Gambling Week 2021.
Safer Gambling Week 2021 social media channels are additionally stay: @SGWeek21 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram #SGWeek21.
