The UK gambling sector has pledged the highest participation and coverage to promote Safer Gambling Week (#SGWeek23) taking place from 13th – 19th November 2023.
Organised by the trade bodies of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), bacta and the Bingo Association, Safer Gambling Week is now in its seventh year, which sees “the whole industry coming together to further promote safer gambling, by highlighting the tools available so customers can stay in control and signposting help and advice to those who need it.”
SGWeek is supported by the government and UKGC and will once again see a blitz of safer gambling messages both online and in land-based venues, to spark a nationwide conversation about responsible gambling.
DCMS Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew said: “Safer Gambling Week is a good reminder of the work already underway by government, industry and the regulator to prevent harm. “
“We are taking action to prevent gambling addiction, improve safer gambling tools and strengthen messaging to stop people incurring potentially life-changing losses. “We welcome the gambling industry using this week to increase uptake and awareness of this important issue.”
Participating stakeholders aim to build upon the achievements of last year’s campaign, which saw a 12.5% increase in accounts setting deposit limits, with over 200,000 doing so in October alone, as “61% of those were first-time limit setters.
Further highlights saw the use of ‘reality checks alerts that monitor play duration soar by 300%.
UKGC CEO Andrew Rhodes commented: “Safer Gambling Week affords the unique opportunity to draw even more attention to its importance. “It also provides the opportunity for operators to share best practice and ensure people in Britain are provided with the safest gambling opportunities in the world.
Central to this year’s theme, SGWeek seeks to expand its social engagement with businesses and community organisations to initiate complex dialogue about responsible gambling with employees, customers and their social circles, thereby strengthening a unified message of awareness and the availability of support resources year-round.
SGWeek represents a collective effort by industry stakeholders to maintain responsible gambling practices and keep problem gambling rates in the UK at minimal levels, currently recorded at “0.4% of the adult population in England, as per the latest NHS Health Survey.”
Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the BGC, said: “Safer Gambling Week is now a well-established annual event, promoting the vital safer gambling tools only available in the regulated betting and gaming sector and signposting help to those that need it. Core to this is our commitment to empower customers with the knowledge and tools to bet safely all year round.
“We also use the week to highlight the outstanding work that third sector organisations deliver, such as GamCare who provide treatment and operate the National Gambling Helpline, Gordon Moody who provide residential treatment and YGAM who educate young people on the dangers of harmful gambling.”
