Organised by the BGC, BACTA and the Bingo Association, Safer Gambling Week is now in its eighth year and will once again see a range of safer gambling messages both online and in land-based venues, to spark a nationwide conversation about betting responsibly.

Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling said: “Safer Gambling Week is a good opportunity to recognise the important work being done to help protect those at risk of gambling harms.

“We welcome the industry using this week to highlight the tools and support available to prevent people suffering potentially life-changing harm.

“The Government is currently considering the full range of gambling policy and will update in due course.”

Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, said: “Ensuring safety should always be central to every aspect of gambling.

“However, Safer Gambling Week offers a valuable chance to emphasise this priority even further.

“It also enables operators to exchange best practices, helping to make gambling in Britain among the safest experiences worldwide.”

Louie French MP, Shadow Sport and Gambling Minister, said: “This week marks the eight annual Safer Gambling Week. Here in the United Kingdom we have made good progress over those eight years in tackling problem gambling. Looking to other European countries, we have a comparatively low problem gambling rate, thanks to the work done by the BGC, BACTA and the Bingo Association – alongside the previous Conservative Government – all year round.  

“Safer Gambling Week is one of the most effective ways the industry has found to get the safer gambling message across to those 22.5 million adults who enjoy a flutter each month. With more than 50 million impressions on social media in Safer Gambling Week 2023, the message is far reaching.   

“BGC, BACTA, and the Bingo Association should be proud of the work they do to promote safer gambling and the impact this continues to have on increasing safer gambling all year round.”

The annual campaign will build on last year’s successful event in November when the number of customers using safer gambling tools soared, 54 per cent of players setting deposit limits during the week, did so for the first time.

And the number of players actively setting a reality check during SGW rose by over 300 per cent for the second year in a row.

Safer Gambling Week 2023 also smashed previous social media records, generating over 50 million impressions across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Regulated betting and gaming operators already work tirelessly all year round to promote safer gambling, including by encouraging deposit limits and time-outs, as well as directing customers to the range of self-exclusion services that exist.

Safer Gambling Week provides an opportunity to go even further by encouraging businesses and organisations to start a conversation, not only with staff and customers, but also with their friends and family. The annual campaign provides a consistent voice to raise awareness of safer gambling, highlighting the help, support and tools that are available throughout the year.

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, said: “Safer Gambling Week is about showcasing safer gambling tools that exist in the regulated industry all year round to ensure that the millions of people who enjoy a regular flutter, continue to do so in a safe and responsible environment.

“Previous years have shown that this campaign leads to increased use of those popular safer gambling tools – like time-outs and deposit limits.”

Miles Baron, Chief Executive of the Bingo Association, said: “The Bingo Association is delighted to be working alongside BACTA and The Betting and Gaming Council to once again support and promote Safer Gambling Week.”

George McGregor, Executive Director – Government Relations, bacta said: “SG Week provides an opportunity to highlight what the gambling sector does all year round to ensure customers can have some fun, safe in the knowledge that operators are there for them and their peers if things start to get out of control.”

Each month around 22.5 million adults in Great Britain have a flutter.

For more information on Safer Gambling Week, please visit www.safergamblingweek.org. Safer Gambling Week social channels are also live: @SGWeek on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram.