Safer Gambling Week 2021

Safer Gambling Week is back this year in 2021 to help raise awareness, and standards, of safer gambling in the UK. The annual, industry-wide event has been running since 2017, where everybody comes together from bingo and casino, to online and bricks and mortar, to amusement machines and bookies to get the message out there. Gambling must be as safe as it possibly can be, and we all have our part to play to make it so.

This year, this includes emphasis on the Betting & Gaming Council’s new slogan, “Take Time to Think” which follows on from the previous message, “When the fun stops, stop.”

In 2021, Safer Gambling Week is running from Monday 1st November until Sunday 7th. All reputable operators and affiliates are spreading the word by putting out messages to players and doing their bit to move the conversation forward.

What are the three immediate aims of Safer Gambling Week?

• Impart on players how to gamble more safely
• Get across what tools are available to them in order to help achieve this (in recent years, the number of tools have multiplied and every reputable operator have options in place)
• Provide sources of information, advice and support to those seeking it including charities and institutions

The Chief Executive of the Betting & Gaming Council (BCG), Michael Dugher, expressed optimism that this year’s push would be even bigger than the last.

“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.”

In making his launch statement of this year’s initiative, he also ran through the positive steps the industry has made in recent times that showed its commitment to safe gambling, including:

“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.”

For more information, check out our post from last year on Safer Gambling Week 2020, which shows just some of the tools which are widely available to players who want and need access to them.

Here are just some of the available resources:

• Safer Gambling Week Website
• UK National Gambling Helpline Number: 0808 8020 133 (Available free, 24 hours a day)
• GamCare
• BeGambleAware
• BigDeal (Launched by GamCare to help young people specifically)