SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Launching the next wave of its Bet Regret safer gambling campaign, GambleAware has secured new partnerships with Supporters Direct Scotland and MAN v FAT.
In addition, the charity has also renewed its existing partnership with both the Football Supporters Association (FSA) and the Scottish Football Supporters Association.
The new and extended agreements will focus on promoting safer gambling throughout the football season, while simultaneously educating supporters about the risks of gambling.
Zoe Osmond, Director of Communications at GambleAware, commented: “These partnerships are vitally important to the Safer Gambling Campaign and enable us to reach our target audience and make them aware of the new key campaign messages.
“We have chosen to work with these organisations in particular as we are confident they will help us share and promote our campaign message to encourage regular sports bettors to avoid impulsive bets so they can avoid the feeling of Bet Regret.”
The agreement with the FSA will work on strengthening the existing work that GambleAware and the organisation completed last year to encourage moderation of betting behaviours, including providing activities to promote the Safer Gambling Campaign message.
David Rose, Deputy Chief Executive at the Football Supporters’ Association, added: “The FSA is delighted to renew our partnership with GambleAware and to help educate football fans across the country about the risks of gambling and encourage those who choose to bet, to do so safely. It’s a very important message and one that we’re keen to help promote.”
In addition, the websites for Supporters Direct Scotland, Scottish Football Supporters Association and MAN v FAT will all feature Safer Gambling Campaign collateral and messaging.
GambleAware will work alongside MAN v FAT, which operates a weight loss programme for men and includes football leagues in over 80 locations in the UK, to train the coaches to ‘inform and talk to members’ about responsible gambling behaviours.
The organisation will also include specific talks on GambleAware and its Safer Gambling Campaign as part of its ongoing social media talks and video sessions.
Richard Crick, Head of Football at MAN v FAT, concluded: “MAN v FAT Football are delighted to be working with GambleAware to bring greater insights to our players on the public health impacts of gambling.
“With football being the most prominent sport to gamble on in the UK, we felt that forging a partnership would be another avenue which will support members to be as healthy in body and mind as possible.”
