SGWeek 2023 nets record coverage promoting safer gambling tools

The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) has reported a significant increase in the reach and coverage of Safer Gambling Week (#SGWeek), noting a 70% rise in promotional activities compared to the previous year.

The surge resulted in over 50 million interactions on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and another unnamed platform.

In its seventh iteration, Safer Gambling Week, held from November 13 to 19, continued its mission to unite the gambling sector in emphasizing available resources for players. The focus remains on helping players manage their gambling activities, offering advice, and fostering discussions about safer gambling practices among friends and family.

Organised by the BGC, bacta and the Bingo Association, the initiative’s website received half a million visits during the week, several cross-party senior MPs and peers backed the campaign, and the UK Gambling Commission supported the event as well.

The more than 50 million impressions on social media for Safe..

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New York establishes voluntary self-exclusion register

The New York State Gaming Commission has announced the formation of a voluntary self-exclusion register to protect players across the state.

Developed in association with the Responsible Play Partnership, the New York Council on Problem Gambling and the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the self-exclusion program will allow players to ban themselves from any gambling activity.

Those placed on the register will be barred from all gaming establishments across the state and from gambling on any platform including sportsbooks.

NYCPG Executive Director James Maney said: “Assisting those in need of help through providing care and concern is at the core of what NYCPG does, and the launch of this new program exemplifies that care and concern by breaking down barriers.

“The new online notary services make it easier for individuals to complete remote VSE, while also connecting to one of our caring staff members who are knowledgeable about the process.”

The state ..

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SKS365 takes ‘urgent’ environmental action with PlanetGreen365 program

SKS365 has announced that a corporate forest of 1,000 trees has been planted as part of the PlanetGreen365 corporate sustainability program.

This is the first initiative that the Italian market operator has completed in its plan to promote environmental sustainability and support rural communities in different parts of the world. The trees were planted across Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Brian Dean, Chief People Officer of SKS365, expressed that the group is extremely aware of the urgent need to address the issue of climate change and environmental sustainability.

“From heat waves to hurricanes, from droughts to floods and fires, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent, putting human lives at risk and the future of our planet in jeopardy,” he said.

“Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness and responsibility among all of us in the fight against climate change and to safeguard the environment: governments, businesses, communities, and even individuals, ev..

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National Addictions Awareness Week 2023 combats gambling stigma

Canada’s National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) 2023 is in full swing, running from Nov. 19-25. This yearly initiative, organized by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), aims to raise awareness about addiction and reduce the stigma that surrounds it. It also includes raising awareness of the harm associated with gambling addiction.

NAAW is a time for Canadians to learn more about addiction and how to support people looking for help. It allows people to engage in discussions, share valuable information, and promote resources. In particular, gambling addiction concerns are addressed by organizations that take part in NAAW events, recognizing the considerable impact this can have on individuals and communities, both socially and economically.

This year’s NAAW theme is “Inspiration, Innovation, and Inclusion”, which focuses on supporting new ideas around prevention and treatment and listening to people who have struggled with addiction.

In line with the theme, C..

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MLB, NBA, and NHL launch new responsible gambling PSA

A trio of major leagues are uniting together for the release of a new responsible gambling campaign targeted at US bettors.

The NHL, NBA, and MLB released a new commercial spot on Tuesday that will debut during the NBA In-Season Tournament match-up between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday evening at 7:30pm ET.

Titled “Never Know What’s Next”, the spot was made in cooperation with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) as well as operators DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, and ESPN Bet.

“Working with our fellow sports leagues, gaming operator partners, and responsible gaming partners gives added weight – particularly for young bettors – to this shared priority of making an impact on responsible gaming education across the United States,” said Scott Kaufman-Ross, NBA Senior Vice President Head of Gaming & New Business Ventures.  “Ensuring fans are aware of the inherent risk if they choose to bet and correcting the misconception that betting on sports..

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RWA members contribute $3m to provide ‘vital’ financial counselling

The betting brand members of Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) are donating more than $3m over three years to provide financial counselling services for Australians.

Entain, bet365, betfair, PointsBet, Sportsbet and Unibet are each participating in the initiative, which has seen RWA partner with the Federal Government, the financial counselling sector and a range of industries including banking, energy and insurance.

This initiative effort aims to establish a not-for-profit body that will distribute funding to financial counselling services around the country from early 2024, aiding Australians in accessing sessions ‘promptly if needed’. 

CEO of RWA, Kai Cantwell, emphasised that financial counsellors play a ‘vital role’ helping Australians in financial difficulty by providing free, independent and confidential advice on ways to manage debts, make informed choices about their money and build a future with financial freedom.      

“RWA members are proud to set the industry standa..

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GambleAware calls on public to end stigma on problem gambling treatment 

GambleAware has called on partners and stakeholders to actively engage in addressing the stigma associated with problem gambling treatment which, it claims, continues to represent a major barrier for those seeking support.

The announcement comes as new data commissioned by GambleAware reveals that nearly two-thirds (64%) of adults in Great Britain who have experienced gambling problems have not discussed their issues with anyone, with 39% attributing their silence to stigma.

This data underscores GambleAware’s concerns about the high incidence of silence among those suffering from gambling harms and addiction. In response, it is launching the next phase of its stigma campaign to encourage those experiencing harm to seek support.

Chief Executive Zoë Osmond said: “It’s alarming to see the number of people who are struggling in isolation. As a hidden addiction, gambling harms can be incredibly hard to spot from the outside.

“It is therefore critical that people impacted are aware of t..

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Gordon Moody: Tailored intervention & aftercare vital to effective treatment of problem gambling

Gordon Moody has published its ‘Insights Report’ for the first half of 2023/2024, providing a detailed overview of its efforts to deliver localised therapy and treatment for victims of problem gambling.

The report aims to provide UK stakeholders with an understanding of the day-to-day dynamics impacting problem gambling interventions and treatments, which Gordon Moody has offered since 1971.

The charity details significant progress in the reach and effectiveness of its interventions, reporting a 10% increase in applications (481 patients) compared to the previous year.

The report underscored the ‘evolving make-up‘ of patients receiving treatment by gender, age, and ethnic origin, showing trends and changes over time. Regarding gender, 76% of applications were male, 23% female, and 1% transgender or other.

Mirroring wider UK problem gambling trends, Gordon Moody saw the age group of 24-34 as the largest segment of applicants. However, the charity underlined improved reach and effect..

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KSA tests public awareness of CRUKS 2.0

Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands Gambling Authority, has initiated a ‘pilot campaign’ to raise public awareness of CRUKS, the Dutch gambling central self-exclusion register.

Pilot campaigns have commenced across social media platforms, informing audiences about how to self-exclude from all Dutch licensed gambling operators via CRUKS.

Operated by the KSA, the CRUKS register was launched on 1 October 2021 to coincide with the Dutch government’s introduction of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA) marketplace, regulating online gambling services.

CRUKS allows gamblers in the Netherlands to “voluntarily take a break from gambling.” Once registered, they cannot participate in legal online casinos and other gambling offers in the country for a minimum of six months and up to 99 years.

During H1, KSA launched its revamped CRUKS 2.0 register. The update made it easier to unsubscribe from gambling activities and added an eight-day reflection period for those considering unsubscribing.

Th..

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UKGC: Youth Report finds 0.7% problem gambling rate in 11-17 age group

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has released its “Young People and Gambling Survey for 2023,” which investigates the gambling behaviors and experiences of young individuals aged 11-17.

Prior to the 2023 survey, a research program was initiated to enhance the collection of official gambling participation statistics. Stakeholders were reminded that the datasets for 2021 and 2020 were not updated due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on young people lives.

The Commission’s previous reports concentrated on the 11-16 age group. The 2023 edition has broadened to include 17-year-olds in year 12 and pupils from independent schools, with the survey engaging 3,453 online participants from England, Scotland, and Wales.

The report provides an overview of young people’s involvement in gambling, noting that around 26% of those aged 11-17 gambled with their own money over the past year. Among these activities, 19% played arcade gaming machines, while 11% bet money with friends and family.

The ..

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