The week dedicated to responsible gambling in the UK is being rebranded.
Responsible Gambling Week, the project dedicated to responsible gambling in the UK, is set to be replaced by the Safer Gambling Week campaign according to industry organisations behind the campaign.
Several industry bodies support the initiative including the Bingo Association (BA), the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (bacta) and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).
Safer Gambling Week
Safer Gambling Week will run this year from 19-25 November.
“Let’s Talk About Safer Gambling” will remain the strapline for Safer Gambling Week 2020. The campaign will also enable all businesses and organisations within the gambling industry to talk about safe and responsible gambling with customers, staff and their friends and family.
Promotional materials will use one of six key messages to engage with audiences and each of them will provide details of free and confidential contact points for more information and advice. The key messages are:
- Ask yourself… have you carried on past your spending limit?
- Just a heads up… it’s good to set yourself limits
- Just a heads up… it’s easy to lose track of time when gambling
- Play smart… know when to stop
- Remember… friends and family are more important than gambling
- Remember… gambling is not a way to make money
Safer Gambling Week 2020 artwork for promotional materials such as online banners, posters, social media assets, leaflets and contact cards will be made available to all participants free of charge.
What the industry has said
Michael Dugher, Chief Executive, Betting and Gaming Council, said: “As the new body representing the betting and gaming industry, the BGC is committed to driving up standards and promoting safer gambling.
“Safer Gambling Week is a fantastic initiative which the BGC are proud to play a leading role in. This awareness campaign is now in its fourth year and it has achieved a significant increase in engagement at all levels on the tools and support available to customers.
“We achieved over 25 million impressions on social media in 2019, setting a new benchmark for the campaign, which demonstrates the breadth and reach of the campaign.
“Our members are determined to raise standards and as part of this year’s campaign can point to significant changes that we have introduced, including new cooling-off periods on gaming machines, substantially increased funding for research, education and treatment; a ‘whistle to whistle’ ban on advertising during sport; new ID and age-verification checks and a ban on betting with credit cards.”
Miles Baron, chief executive of the BA said the week is an important part of the bingo industry’s commitment to social responsibility. Baron said: “As businesses with venues, the sector recognises the important opportunity we have to promote safer gambling messages and engage directly with customers.”
Bacta CEO John White added: “Safer Gambling Week allows bacta members to highlight their year-long commitment to safer gambling, the safer gambling tools available to customers and the quality of staff that engage with our customers on a daily basis.”
