SBC News Safer Gambling Week 2020 to focus on customer intervention

Safer Gambling Week 2020 to focus on customer intervention

Safer Gambling Week 2020 will take place from 19 – 25 November, once again championing responsible gambling standards, behaviours and education initiatives across the country. 

Led by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), The Bingo Association (BA) and the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (bacta), this year’s campaign will feature the tagline ‘Let’s talk about safer gambling’

Michael Dugher, Chief Executive, Betting and Gaming Council, said: “As the new body representing the betting and gaming industry, the BGC is committed to driving up standards and promoting safer gambling.

“Safer Gambling Week is a fantastic initiative which the BGC are proud to play a leading role in. This awareness campaign is now in its fourth year and it has achieved a significant increase in engagement at all levels on the tools and support available to customers. We achieved over 25 million impressions on social media in 2019, setting a new benchmark for the campaign, which demonstrates the breadth and reach of the campaign.

“Our members are determined to raise standards and as part of this year’s campaign can point to significant changes that we have introduced, including new cooling-off periods on gaming machines, substantially increased funding for research, education and treatment; a ‘whistle to whistle’ ban on advertising during sport; new ID and age-verification checks and a ban on betting with credit cards.

“And during the covid-19 outbreak, we have published a 10-pledge action plan to promote safer gambling, while our members also voluntarily agreed to remove TV and radio gaming advertising, replacing their slots with safer gambling messages or donating them to charity.

“As businesses emerge from lockdown, I’m looking forward to this year’s Safer Gambling Week being a tremendous success.”

Safer Gambling Week will give operators the opportunity to ‘start a conversation about safer gambling’ with customers, staff, friends and family. 

Promotional and messaging materials for the campaign will include posters, web banners, social media collateral, contact cards and leaflets which will be made available free of charge for all participants. 

Miles Baron, Chief Executive, The Bingo Association, added: “Safer Gambling Week is an important part of the bingo industry’s commitment to social responsibility and provides a useful focal point for highlighting activity and support that is available throughout the year. 

“As businesses with venues, the sector recognises the important opportunity we have to promote safer gambling messages and engage directly with customers.”

Promotional materials will use a range of six key messages to engage with audiences, with each item providing details of free and confidential contact points for further information and advice, and of social media platforms. The key messages:

  • Ask yourself…  have you carried on past your spending limit?
  • Just a heads up… it’s good to set yourself limits
  • Just a heads up…  it’s easy to lose track of time when gambling
  • Play smart…  know when to stop
  • Remember…  friends and family are more important than gambling
  • Remember…  gambling is not a way to make money

John White, Chief Executive of bacta, concluded:“Safer Gambling Week allows bacta members to highlight their year-long commitment to safer gambling, the safer gambling tools available to customers and the quality of the staff that engage with our customers on a daily basis.”

 

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