Analysis Shows How Safer Gambling Week Makes a Difference

Safer Gambling Week is a yearly event that unites various parts of the betting and gaming world in the UK and Ireland. This includes places like sports bookmakers, bingo halls, casinos, and online gaming websites. The initiative involves charities and other important groups working together to promote safe and responsible gambling practices.

Safer Gambling Week 2024 will take place from 18-24 November 2024.

The purpose of Safer Gambling Week

In the UK, around 22.5 million adults place bets each month, whether it's buying lottery tickets, playing bingo, visiting casinos, enjoying online games, or betting on sports like football and horse racing. Meanwhile, the latest NHS Health Survey for England found that about 0.4% of adults are considered problem gamblers.

The purpose of Safer Gambling Week is to encourage a nationwide discussion about safe gambling practices between employees, customers, and their families and friends. It aims to inform people about the tools and resources available to help them stay in control of their gambling activities.

The initiative recently celebrated its seventh year and attracted 500,000 visits to the Safer Gambling Week website. This site provides useful information and support for anyone who might be facing challenges with gambling. It also shares tips on how to gamble responsibly, such as setting limits on deposits and taking breaks.

The impact of 2023 Safer Gambling Week

Data from last year’s event shows that safer gambling tools have been used by more individuals gambling due to safer gambling week last year.

Analysis from 2023 data highlighted that 54% of players set deposit limits for the first time. Those setting deposit limits increased by 18% compared to the same time in 2022.

Also, during Safer Gambling Week 2023, the use of maximum state limits increased by over 300%. And across social media, there were over 50 million impressions compared to 30 million the previous year.

Support from others

Many senior members of different political parties supported the initiative, including Stuart Andrew, the gambling minister, and several shadow ministers including Stephanie Peacock, who is the Shadow Gambling Minister.

They all publicly backed this important campaign. The event also received strong support from the Gambling Commission, which is an independent regulator that oversees gambling, and its Chief Executive, Andrew Rhodes.

Several well-known football clubs showed their support for Safer Gambling Week 2023, including Premier League teams like West Ham United and Brighton, along with EFL clubs such as Southampton, Middlesbrough, and Blackpool. Notably, Blackpool even featured the Safer Gambling Week logo on their shirts during a League One match against Shrewsbury Town.

A pillar of the regulated industry

According to the Betting and Gaming Council, their CEO and Acting Chair Michael Dugher, said: ‘These new figures show Safer Gambling Week continues to be a powerful advert for increasing use of safer gambling tools in the regulated industry.

‘Millions of customers now use safer gambling tools, including deposit limits and time outs. This is a pillar of the regulated industry and is in marked contrast to the unsafe, unregulated and growing online gambling black market, which provides no safer gambling support, contributes zero tax and does not support sport.

‘Our members promote these tools all year round, but a single dedicated week, bringing together the whole sector alongside huge support from cross-party MPs, from the Government and the independent regulator, the Gambling Commission, really turbocharges that work - and these figures show it makes a real difference.'

For more information about Safer Gambling Week 2024, visit the website.