Date Confirmed for Safer Gambling Week 2021

Campaigning for Higher Standards in Gambling

Safer Gambling Week is an annual event where land-based and online gambling companies get together to promote the importance of responsible gambling. The project was launched back in 2017 by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), Bingo Association and British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Bacta) and was originally known as ‘Responsible Gambling Week’ before being given a new name in 2020. This year’s event, running November 1^st to 7^th, will feature a wide range of safer gambling messages like previous years, both online and offline throughout the UK, in a bid to tackle problem gambling.

In 2020, the week-long event amassed some 19million social media impressions, a figure that was up 19% on the previous year and this was despite all betting shops, bingo halls, amusement arcades and casinos being closed across the country. Safer Gambling Week’s dedicated website saw a rise in the number of visitors – also up, 18% year-on-year.

2020’s Complete Overhaul:

Last year was a year for major changes with one being the ban on credit card use in gambling, another was aimed directly at operators who were required to identify players who were spending too long playing, and it was this that resulted in the introduction of ‘timely reminders’. Safe mate tools were another (by Play OJO), a system designed to remind you to play responsibly. Tombola jumped on board with their own deposit rules – bringing back the £500 weekly deposit limit while introducing a new £250 weekly net deposit limit.

There are more ways to manage spending now than ever before, with online bingo and online casino sites offering more ways to cap your deposits and wagers as well as making the self-exclusion process easier for those who need a break. All this and more will be highlighted in November and you will be encouraged to take part, especially if you follow gambling brands on Facebook.

“Last year’s event was a huge success despite the pandemic and, with the prospect of betting shops and casinos being open when this year’s takes place, I’m sure Safer Gambling Week 2021 will be even better,” BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said. “Our members already demonstrate their commitment to safer gambling through things like increased funding for research, education and treatment, the whistle-to-whistle ban on TV betting commercials during live sport and strict ID and age verification checks.

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.”

Top Tips for Responsible Gambling:

Gambling should be fun and not seen as a way to make money! I for one have heard “It must be due to pay out now” all too often and it simply isn’t the case! When the fun stops, stop!

Know your limits! Set yourself a limit – an amount you can afford to lose and never go beyond this. If you feel you may be tempted, set your limits in concrete by making use of the gambling establishments deposit/wager limits.

Time is everything! You should always set yourself a time limit to play with. Nowadays, all operators are tasked with reminding players just how long they’ve been playing bingo, slots or games.

Do not chase losses! If you’ve lost money to gambling, chasing it won’t work and more often than not, you will end up losing again.

Never gamble when you are feeling low or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Any of these can lead to poor decisions and reckless gameplay.

If you feel you or someone you know is playing too much, you can contact GamCare or Be Gamble Aware who provide confidential help and advice to help people make informed decisions about their gambling.

Source: “Safer Gambling Week 2021 Confirmed for 1-7 November”. iGamingBusiness. May 20, 2021.