Data released following this year’s successful event – which ran from November 13 to 19 – revealed a huge 70% increase on 2022, when Safer Gambling Week messaging was displayed on major social media sites nearly 30 million times.
The initiative, which ran for its seventh year, also received half a million visits to the Safer Gambling Week website which signposts help and advice for those who may be struggling as well as offering advice on safer gambling tools like deposit limits and time outs.
Meanwhile, a large number of cross-party senior MPs and peers – including gambling minister Stuart Andrew MP and several shadow ministers including the Shadow Gambling Minister Stephanie Peacock MP – also gave their backing to the ground-breaking campaign.
This year’s event also had the full support of the independent regulator, the Gambling Commission and its Chief Executive Andrew Rhodes.
Among the well-known football clubs to support Safer Gambling Week 2023 were Premier League sides West Ham United and Brighton as well as EFL sides Southampton, Middlesborough and Blackpool.
The aim of Safer Gambling Week is to kickstart a national conversation between staff, customers and their friends and family, about safer gambling, as well as highlight the range of tools that are available to help people stay in control of their betting.
BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said: “This year’s Safer Gambling Week campaign has proved another huge success, achieving new records for promoting the safer gambling tools available to customers and signposting the help and support available to those who need it.
“It is proven that the success of the campaign leads to increased use of popular safer gambling tools – like time-outs and deposit limits – that only exist in the regulated industry.
“The record numbers for both impressions and website visits show that the industry has never been more committed to ensuring the many millions who enjoy a regular flutter continue to do so in a safe and responsible environment.
“Thanks to Safer Gambling Week, we can be confident millions of people are better informed about the ways they can enjoy their hobby even more safely and responsibly, that’s something the entire industry can be proud of.
“But the regulated industry’s commitment to safer gambling is not just for one week of the year. It is our mission for every week of the year.”
The Safer Gambling Week campaign, organised by the Betting and Gaming Council, BACTA and the Bingo Association saw a blitz of safer gambling messages both online and in land-based venues, aiming to spark a nationwide conversation about betting responsibly.
The campaign was also supported by a number of events including the EGR Safer Gambling Forum which provided an opportunity for industry to share knowledge and best practice on their work on safer gambling, alongside hearing updates from safer gambling charities. The forum featured speakers from GamCare, Deal Me Out, YGAM, Kindred and Betknowmore.
Each month around 22.5m adults have a bet in Britain, whether it’s buying a lottery ticket, playing a game of bingo, visiting a casino, playing games online or having a wager on football, horse racing and other sports.
Meanwhile, problem gambling rates remain stable and low. According to the latest NHS Health Survey, the rate of problem gambling among adults in England is 0.4%.
