Spot the signs, take action and get support – Safer Gambling Week 2024
Now in its 8th year Safer Gambling Week is an annual campaign run by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and supported industry-wide. It’s a ‘what it says on the tin’ initiative – bringing together different stakeholders to deliver a clear message to promote safer gambling in the UK and Ireland.
Increasing reach
Each year Safer Gambling Week generates more coverage, clicks and engagement. Last year’s campaign saw reach up 70% on 2022. This includes 50M+ social media impressions and around 500,000 website visits over 7 days.
It’s an important week in the industry calendar for slot sites and casinos – recognising the industry’s responsibilities around protecting players, particularly those who may be more vulnerable. In this extensive article we look at:
- Safer Gambling Week aims
- About safer gambling, incl concerns and warning signs
- Safer gambling tools, incl limits and exclusion
- Getting support and advice
- Summary
Safer Gambling Week aims
Safer Gambling Week is an awareness-raising exercise focused on responsible and safer gambling. In addition to the awareness angle, the campaign offers practical advice to help guide people around managing problematic gambling. This includes:
- Warning signs about problem gambling
- Managing gambling habits effectively
- Where and how to seek help and support
- Levels of support available
This year, within the overall safer gambling week messaging there is a focus on 3 key elements designed to support responsible gambling and keep players safe(r). They are categorised under:
- Let’s Talk About Safer Gambling
- Take Action: Safer Gambling Tools
- Get Gambling Support: Advice & Helplines
Let’s Talk About Safer Gambling
Have a think about your gambling habits and learn to manage those habits so that you are in control. Some tips, tools and things to consider to help achieve this:
Set limits:
- How much are you willing to spend? What’s your limit?
- How long do you want to play for?
- How much do you want to win?
For argument’s sake let’s say the answers to those 3 questions are:
- £20
- 75 mins
- £150
And then when you reach the first of those targets, stop.
Gambling should be fun – it’s not a way to make money.
Sure, you’re likely to have a nice win now and then. But over an extended period of time the ‘house’ (casino, bookies etc) always has the edge. Bearing this in mind:
- Only stake what you can afford to lose
- Never borrow to gamble
- Never use money allocated to necessities (food rent, bills etc) to gamble
- Don’t lie about or hide your gambling habits
- If you have a nice win, don’t get over-excited and gamble more thinking you’re ‘on a roll’, it’s a game of luck
- Don’t ‘chase’ losses
- Take a break now and then
- There are more important things in life: family and friends. Spend time with them doing other things
- How much are you spending? Have a read of this blog from GamCare called What Do We Mean by Affordability?
Worried about your gambling? Spot the warning signs:
- Arguing with family and friends about your habit
- Putting gambling ahead of more important things such as family life, friends, work, and study
- Spending more than you can afford or gambling until you have no money left
- Struggling to stop gambling
- Listlessness and losing interest in other hobbies and activities
- Thinking too much about gambling
- Gambling with larger amounts of money or for a longer time to maintain the excitement
- Mental health ‘triggers' such as anxiety, depression, guilt, worry, anger, irritation
Experiencing any of these things? Help and support is available.
Gamcare offers a range of support functions including GamCare online forums and live chat as well as GamCare self guided resources.
There are also dedicated services and self-help tools for people in Ireland: GamblingCare Ireland.
Take Action: Safer Gambling Tools
A problem gambler won’t necessarily become a safer or more responsible gambler just by deciding they want or need to. They will often need support, guidance and some tools to help them on their way.
Various safer gambling tools are available to help players manage their relationship and interaction with gambling. Tools also vary in terms of the degree of support needed.
So what do we mean by tools? And what tools are available for online gamblers?
Set time limits
Reality check timers are on-screen alerts that monitor how long you have been playing. You can usually choose how often you see the alert. Look for them in the safer gambling area of the casino’s website.
Gambling time trackers. Some casino websites show you how long you have been signed in. You can quit or take a break when you reach a certain amount of time.
It is important, of course, to stick to any time (or other) limits you set for yourself.
Set online deposit limits
Deposit limits are a simple way to manage your gambling spend and keep things on track, making sure you don’t go over the limit you’re prepared to spend.
To set an online deposit limit, find the casino’s banking area where you’ll be able to set a deposit limit. Follow on-screen instructions to set the limit. No one else can see the limits you set.
400,000 deposit limits are set every month.
Self-exclusion schemes
Yes, they are exactly what they sound like they are. And they can come in different shapes and sizes, albeit sharing many of the same features. If things have reached a point where you think self-exclusion is the best option these are some of the likely steps you’ll undertake:
- Expect to be excluded for 6 months, minimum
- You can’t get out of the exclusion scheme early
- You’ll be taken off casino marketing databases during the exclusion period
- Leaving the self-exclusion scheme at the end of the designated period means you won’t be added to any other marketing database
- To join a scheme you’ll need provide proof of ID (photo included) or undergo an automated identity-check
You also need to bear in mind that you are agreeing to:
- Your information being shared with other operators in the particular scheme
- Keeping away from any brick-and-mortar gambling venues from which you have self-excluded
- You will be excluded from the chosen site and, likely, any sister sites. To self-exclude from all sites use GAMSTOP.
Multi-operator self-exclusion schemes
You can self-exclude from online gambling. Register through GAMSTOP. Once you’re signed up you won’t be able to access gambling websites and apps operated by companies licensed in Great Britain for a period set by you.
There are also a number of self-exclusion options when it comes to physical venues such as betting shops, bingo halls, arcades and adult gaming centres.
Blocking software for gambling websites
You can go a stage further and actually cut out your ability to see gambling websites. There are a number of providers you can use if you want to go down this path.
BetBlocker
BetBlocker is free. Install it on as many devices as you need to, thus blocking yourself from over 15,000 gambling websites. You choose how long you want to be blocked.
Visit the Bet Blocker website.
Gamban
Gamban will block access to thousands of gambling websites and apps. It’s easy to install and can be used on up to 15 devices.
It’s available free by calling the free GamCare Helpline on: 0808 8020 133 or by using the chat function on the GamCare website.
GamBlock®
Designed to prevent underage gambling, gambling in schools as well as the workplace and to assist those who are unable to control their gambling.
Further Support & Advice
For free, confidential support and advice:
Call the national gambling helpline on:
UK 0800 8020 133
NI 08000 886 725
IRL 1800 936 725
Visit the GamCare website
Visit the National Gambling Treatment Service at GambleAware
Limit the gambling content you see
Another effective measure for some people is limiting the gambling content you’re exposed to on social media and via other apps. Follow the links below provided by the UK Gambling Commission:
X / Twitter:
Controlling Gambling Related Content You See on Twitter
Facebook:
Controlling Gambling Related Content You See on Facebook
How to Control the Ads You See on Facebook
Updating your Facebook Ad Preferences Using the Ad Preferences Tool
YouTube:
How to Opt-Out of Seeing Gambling Related Adverts on YouTube
Block gambling payments with your bank
Most banks now offer an option to limit your gambling spend, meaning you can block gambling transactions directly with your bank. Each bank offers a different service. Contact your bank if this is something you want to consider,
Get Gambling Support: Advice & Helplines
There’s no shortage of places to turn to if you need advice and support about your gambling – or about someone else’s gambling if you’re concerned about them.
There are online forums, websites, helplines and other channels where you can get support and guidance. Support can range from advice on how to stay in control or to stop gambling completely. Advice can be tailored to specific, individual needs.
All organisations listed provide free, confidential and non-judgemental advice.
UK & Northern Ireland
The National Gambling Treatment Service
A network of organisations providing confidential treatment and support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms in England, Scotland and Wales. Telephone, online and face-to-face support offered.
Call free on 0808 8020 133 – 24/7/365
Visit: National Gambling Treatment Service website
GamCare
GamCare Part of the National Gambling Treatment Service, is a leading UK provider of free information, advice and support for gambling harms.
Call free on 0808 8020 133
24 hours a day, every day of the year
You can also visit the following online GamCare support services:
GamCare Live Chat
GamCare Forum
GamCare Group Chat
GamCare GameChange Course
Northern Ireland National Helpline
Run by Dunlewey Substance Advice Centre.
A free and confidential counselling and mentoring programme for people experiencing difficulties with their own, or others’ gambling.
Call free on 08000 886 725
9am-11pm, 7 days a week
Support for Young People
GamCare offers a gambling information, advice and support for young people
Call free on 0808 8020 133 – 24/7/365
Visit the Big Deal website to find out more.
Republic of Ireland
National Helpline
Run by Dunlewey Substance Advice Centre
A free, confidential counselling and mentoring programme for people experiencing difficulties with their own, or others’ gambling.
Call free on 1800 936 725.
9am-11pm, 7 days a week
Helplink National Gambling Addiction Service
Helplink works with the Gambling Awareness Trust (Gambling Care) to provide a free gambling addiction / dependency counselling service available 7 days a week.
Call free on 0818 99 88 80
9am-9pm weekdays
12pm-6pm weekends
Gambling Care
Gambling Care is funded and administered by the Gambling Awareness Trust, an independent charity funding research, education and treatment services to help minimise gambling related harm in Ireland.
Visit the Gambling Care website
Summary
Contrary to the wishes or hopes of some more puritanical elements within society, gambling is popular and will always be with us in some form or another. People enjoy it and many get a thrill out of it. And for most, it’s a harmless pastime.
However, for some, gambling can become addictive and problematic. It is these people that government, regulatory bodies and the broader industry need to support. Help can range from fairly gentle advice and guidance offered once and absorbed all the way up to self-exclusion. Safer Gambling Week covers all of these options – and much more.
Safer Gambling Week is an important initiative that deserves ongoing support from within and outside the industry, from regulators, the media and our health services.
Play safe
At No Wagering we fully endorse the Safer Gambling Week message and will always encourage responsible gambling. We recommend that players make use of the resources available to them. Please play responsibly.
