Safer Gambling Week
From the 19th to 25th November, the Safer Gambling Week initiative is in full swing and aims to get everyone talking about gambling, gambling responsibly, asking questions to determine if your gambling is safe and raising awareness about the effects of problem gambling.
Safer Gambling week gives you advice on how to ensure your gambling is safe, information about the various schemes and tools available to protect you from gambling related harm, and to provide advice and support on all aspects of gambling.
What happens in Safer Gambling Week?
Gambling operators already have to display certain safer gambling materials on their websites and venues, but during Safer Gambling Week these messages and information will be much more visible. There is a range of promotional materials that operators can use across their platforms which address specific aspects of gambling.
These materials focus on the five main aspects of safer gambling and provide information on how to get further advice and help if required. They also ask key questions about gambling behaviour and will be displayed across websites and social media channels. Physical materials such as leaflets, banners and posters will be displayed within venues.
Staff in venues will also be asking customers whether they would like more information about safer gambling and act as a point of contact for any customers who are concerned about their gambling behaviour.
Charities and support
There has been an increasing amount of younger people affected by gambling with children as young as 13 now being treated in NHS gambling addiction clinics. Charities such as GamCare and YGAM will be running support groups and workshops, focussing on protecting children from gambling related harm. They will work with health care professionals, teachers and youth workers to provide information about the risks of gambling.
More information about Safer Gambling Week can be found at safergamblinguk.org
