Safer Gambling Week 2023 has smashed previous social media records, generating over 50 million impressions across Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram. According to data released following this year’s event, which took place from November 13 to 19, there was a 70% increase over 2022, when 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 signposted help and advice for those who may be struggling with gambling 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 Shadow Gambling Minister Stephanie Peacock MP, gave their backing to the campaign. This year’s event also had the full support of the UK’s 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, with the latter displaying the Safer Gambling Week logo on their shirt for their League One clash with Shrewsbury Town.
According to the Betting and Gaming Council, Safer Gambling Week aims 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.
Michael Dugher, BGC Chief Executive, 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,” he noted.
According to the executive, the record numbers for both impressions and website visits show the commitment of the industry to “ensuring the many millions who enjoy a regular flutter continue to do so in a safe and responsible environment.”
Michael Dugher
“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,” Dugher added. “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.”