UK’s Safer Gambling Week Shows Record Public Engagement

The UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) reported a 22% increase in the use of responsible gambling tools during last year’s Safer Gambling Week.

Safer Gambling Week 2024 Reveals Success

Safer Gambling Week 2024, held from November 18 to 24, delivered an impressive 7.2 million safer gambling messages to bettors throughout the week, which is a 10% increase compared to 2023. According to the BGC, more than 1.5 million unique accounts used a safer gambling tool during Safer Gambling Week, accounting for the 22% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, the number of deposit limits set during the campaign rose by 14%, with 47% of players setting a deposit limit for the first time.

The campaign also broke new ground on social media, generating over 60 million impressions across major platforms such as X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. This marks a substantial 21% increase compared to Safer Gambling Week 2023. The campaign also attracted over half a million visits to the Safer Gambling Week website, which provides guidance and support for those who may be experiencing difficulties, along with information on safer gambling tools such as deposit limits and time-outs.

BGC CEO Grainne Hurst stated that Safer Gambling Week has once again demonstrated its value by effectively encouraging more bettors to take advantage of the wide range of safer gambling tools available exclusively within the regulated sector. She noted that the latest figures are a clear reflection of the campaign’s continued success and the industry’s dedication to raising standards and ensuring that millions of customers who enjoy gambling can do so in a safe and responsible environment.

What Does the Initiative Hope to Achieve?

Safer Gambling Week is an annual, cross-industry initiative that unites the regulated betting and gaming sectors in the UK and Ireland to promote safe and responsible gambling practices. The initiative hopes to ignite a nationwide conversation among staff, customers, and their friends and families about responsible gambling, while also highlighting the various tools available to help individuals stay in control of their betting habits.

The initiative received strong cross-party support from senior MPs and Peers, including Minister for Gambling Baroness Twycross, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Stuart Andrew, and Shadow Sport and Gambling Minister Louie French, all of whom publicly endorsed the campaign. It also continued to benefit from the full backing of the independent regulator, the Gambling Commission, and its chief executive, Andrew Rhodes.

Various popular soccer teams have also expressed their support for Safer Gambling Week 2024. These include Premier League teams Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and Southampton. This ensured that their millions of fans also heard about the initiative.

According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), an estimated 0.4% of England’s population, specifically, are problem gamblers. Considering England’s adult population is about 46 million, this means that more than 180,000 of them exhibit some harmful gambling behaviors, meaning the Betting and Gaming Council’s initiative still has more work to be done.