Gambling charities and service providers GAMSTOP, GamCare, and Gamban have praised the effectiveness of their joint TalkBanStop campaign.
The campaign was launched back in March as a 12-month pilot project by the three organisations and aims to provide support to anyone suffering from gambling harm by combining the personal support offered by GamCare’s advisors with free access to Gamban’s blocking software. The campaign also encourages users to register with GAMSTOP’s self-exclusion service.
According to SBCNews, a new study by Ipsos Mori has found that people who have used all three services provided as part of the campaign have since gambled less and experienced a reduction in gambling-related harm.
What’s more, the Ipsos Mori study found that the campaign has increased awareness among those who “need it most”, particularly regarding the use of support and the free responsible gambling tools available.
In a statement praising the campaign, GamCare Chief Executive Anna Hemmings said in a statement: “Since the TalkBanStop campaign started there has been huge value in the collaboration of the three partners, all of which have a shared aspiration in reducing gambling harms.
“What we’ve seen through the pilot is the ability to share best-practice with one another and provide the tools and support to make it as easy as possible for people to get help in one place.”
She added: “We believe the impact of our interventions, layered together, amplifies the effects of the others for the individual in recovery, just as our coming together as organisations has multiplied our efforts to achieve greater impact. Going forward, we want TalkBanStop to become normalised as a first port of call for anyone looking to stop or control their gambling.”
Gambling operator the Kindred Group has highlighted a continued drop in revenue from harmful gambling.
The leading operator published its latest Safer Gambling update, in which it revealed that its share revenue from harmful gambling decreased from 4.3% to 3.3% during Q2 2021. The percentage is the lowest since the company first began openly publishing its safer gambling reports back in 2020.
The drop is in line with the organisation’s aim of 0% revenue from harmful gambling by the end of 2023. What’s more, the report highlighted that Kindred considers the 18 to 24 age group more prone to addiction and at a higher financial risk, pushing it to take a “more cautious approach” and to form specially designed approaches to minimise the risk of problem gambling.
Henrik Tjärnström, the CEO of the Kindred Group, said in a statement via Gambling Insider: “We are pleased to see that the percentage of revenue coming from harmful gambling has decreased. While we welcome this decrease, we do understand that we still have to work hard to further decrease this number.
“In line with our roadmap, our operational teams have worked to implement more proactive customer interactions, and this has resulted in an increase in the use of control tools to help customers stay in control.”
As part of improving its safer gambling responsibilities, Kindred published a peer-reviewed research paper by Kindred’s Head of Responsible Gambling and Research, Maris Catania, with support from PhD tutor Professor Mark Griffiths.
Back in April, Kindred Group signed a US-based agreement with game developer EveryMatrix. Under the partnership, EveryMatrix has provided Kindred Group with all content developed by its Spearhead and Armadillo studios for US territories, helping to boost EveryMatrix’s player reach across the country and expand Kindred Group’s game offering.
The Betting And Gaming Council’s (BGC) Chief Executive Michael Dugher has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to deliver a “budget for jobs”.
In a statement issued yesterday (Monday, October 25th), Dugher confirmed that the regulated gambling industry is ready to help the Treasury in ensuring Britain builds back from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Highlighting the industry’s contributions to the country, Dugher pointed to a report from earlier this year by EY, which revealed that BGC members support 119,000 jobs, contribute £7.7 billion to the economy in gross value added, and generate £4.5 billion in tax. Dugher also pointed out how BGC members fund horseracing, provide English Football League and its clubs with £40 million, and help fund rugby league, snooker, darts, and more.
What’s more, BGC members have pledged to create 5,000 apprenticeships by 2025 through their support for the Government’s Plan For Jobs, and Dugher explained that although land-based gambling venues were forced to close for months at a time during lockdown, they are now getting back on their feet and are ready to make a “major contribution to the economy”.
Dugher stressed the importance of Sunak creating a Budget that supports the “hard-pressed high streets” and the “badly-hit hospitality sector” while promoting continued growth in Britain’ world-leading tech companies, such as online gambling firms.
He said in his statement: “Our members are ready, willing and able to assist in the post-pandemic economic recovery. They already support tens of thousands of jobs across the UK, helping to generate billions of pounds in revenue for the Treasury, and with ambitious plans for further expansion in the years to come.
“I therefore hope that the Chancellor delivers a Budget for jobs which will help to repair the damage done by Covid, sustain the economic recovery and – with the full support of the regulated betting and gaming industry – help Britain build back better.”
Michael Dugher’s comments come weeks after the Betting and Gaming Council launched its Take Time To Think campaign, promoting safer gambling and encouraging gamers to use the safer gambling tools offered by operators in the UK.
The campaign has been funded by BGC members William Hill, PlayOJO, Entain, BetVictor, Betfred, Playtech, Flutter, Betsson, Gamesys, Microgaming, and others, and launched as a series of television advertisements showing customers pausing mid-play to consider the safer gambling tools available to them.
Last Sunday (October 24th), the Take Time To Think campaign logo was shown on the perimeter boards for the first 30 seconds of each half of West Ham United’s match against Tottenham Hotspur. The campaign was also displayed on large digital screens outside the stadium as well as on the screens behind both goals, and a full-page advertisement was published on the inside front cover of the match programme, helping to boost awareness.
Meanwhile, leading gambling operator Betway has announced a sponsorship with the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA club.
Under the brand new multi-year sponsorship, the Betway brand will be displayed around the court apron and on backboards inside the Target Centre. The operator’s brand will also be displayed on LED and TV-visible signage, according to Gaming Intelligence.
Betway Chief Executive Anthony Werkman said in a statement: “Continuing the growth of the Betway brand in the US, we’re delighted to be partnering with the Minnesota Timberwolves. We look forward to connecting with their loyal fanbase and we’re also excited to see the team’s new recruits this season.”
The new partnership follows several partnerships announced by Betway in recent months, including becoming the first betting partner of Springboks Rugby club, becoming the betting partner of Bundesliga football club Eintracht Frankfurt, and announcing a sponsorship agreement with the Generali Open tennis tournament.
