The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has announced Safer Gambling Week 2022.
Safer Gambling Week is an annual campaign that is organised by the BGC, the Lotteries Council, the Bingo Association, and BACTA. The campaign is in its fifth year, and it sees online and land-based gambling venues promote safer gambling.
This year’s campaign will run between October 17th and 23rd and aims to build upon 2021’s campaign, which led to a 17% increase in the number of people using safer gambling tools like deposit limits.
What’s more, the BGC reports that social media impressions for Safer Gambling Week 2021 hit 24.5 million, an increase of 16% from the previous year and that sessions on the Safer Gambling website in 2021 increased by 79% from 2020.
This year’s Safer Gambling Week 2022 campaign, which comes as the UK government looks to make changes to the industry with its gambling reforms white paper, will see safer gambling messages appear on online gambling websites and at real-life venues too as the industry attempts to spark a nationwide conversation on how to gamble safely and responsibly.
Speaking about the campaign, BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said: “Safer Gambling Week is now an established annual event. We know that rates of problem gambling are low and are now falling, which is great news, but Safer Gambling Week is further evidence of the regulated industry’s determination to keep raising standards.
“BGC members demonstrate their commitment to safer gambling every day through initiatives such as the whistle to whistle ban on TV betting commercials during live sport and strict ID and age verification checks.”
He added: “Safer Gambling Week is a great opportunity to highlight this fantastic work – and emphasises the difference between the regulated industry and the unlicensed and illegal online black market, which has none of the safeguards which are commonplace among our members.”
Miles Baron, the Chief Executive of the Bingo Association, commented: “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 venue-based businesses, the sector recognises the important opportunity we have to promote safer gambling messages and engage directly with customers.”
John White, BACTA’s Chief Executive, added: “Safer Gambling Week once again allows the industry to showcase its year-long commitment to safer gambling. It also brings customer focus to the tools that are available to them if they in any way feel their gambling is becoming problematic.
“Those tools continue to grow as we learn more about safer gambling and form part of our ambition to cement social responsibility at the heart of our offer to the consumer.”
