Safer Gambling Week recap: Glimpse of hope and optimism

As Gambling Harm Awareness Week draws to a close, participants in The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)’s events talk of glimpses of hope and optimism within the sector.

EGBA members join forces for new edition of the Safer Gambling Week

This year’s theme was dubbed ‘Could gambling be affecting your wellbeing?’ The industry has come together to raise awareness of safer gambling, the tools available to help, and to promote knowledge about the sources of further advice and support.

According to the EGBA’s report, the participating associations included AOJND (Romania); APAJO (Portugal); BAGO (Belgium); BGC (UK); BOS (Sweden); EGBA (EU); IBA (Ireland); IBIA (Global); iGEN (Malta); JDigital (Spain); LIAB (Latvia); NBO (Norway); and NOGA (Netherlands).

The theme of wellbeing was designed to encourage people to reflect on the adverse effects gambling has on overall health. These can include stress, feelings of guilt, lack of concentration, or difficulty sleeping. Those most likely to be affected by problem gambling are diverse and can consist of groups from almost any sector – from the criminal justice service, education, armed forces, sport, financial services, and construction to the gambling industry itself.

During the Gambling Harm Awareness Week, participants encouraged people to communicate about the damages linked to gambling and the impact they have on communities, families, friends, workplaces and individuals. 

There were also some powerful personal stories of recovery, offering a sense of hope and optimism. 

UK Parliament finishing gambling white paper

Damian Collins MP, DCMS Parliamentary Under-Secretary, told UK media that the country supports “the industry coming together to champion safer gambling and highlight the resources available to help reduce harmful gambling.” He asserted that  parliament is working quickly to finalise details of a gambling white paper to ensure the industry’s rules are fit for the digital age.

Participants in the week’s events also included gambling harm minimisation consultancy group, EPIC Risk Management, which has been known to deploy employees with first-hand knowledge of the effects of gambling harm, who can therefore, deliver insight and understanding on the topic.

Dan Spencer, Director of Safer Gambling at EPIC, commented that institutions should always keep safer gambling and player protection at the forefront of their thinking.

Companies, sport teams and cities unite in campaign support

Pokies at clubs were in the Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance’s crosshairs. The group presented its new strategy to minimise gambling harm and called for tighter regulations and fewer gaming machines by the end of the decade.

The U.K.’s RANGERS Football Club also got involved saying its players would wear jerseys with a Zero % Mission logo during their fixture with Dundee. The logo represents a target by Kindred Group that zero percent of its revenue will come from players with problems by the end of next year.

In Sweden, gametech company LeoVegas, announced it has partnered with the Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Clinical Neuroscience, one of the world’s leading medical universities, to research problem gambling.

Join us: 14 – 18 November 2022 MALTA

One of the first European countries to regulate the gaming sector, Malta is a hub of global business. The island is an obvious choice for SiGMA’s presence in Europe and a strong foundation for the field’s future. With a plethora of prospects for both investors and entrepreneurs looking to shape the future of this multi-billion dollar business, Malta Week will bring together industry giants among the affiliates, operators, and suppliers of the gaming sector.