Safer Gambling Week 2022 is set to take place between 17-23 October, and the UK’s four gaming trade associations have detailed an enhanced messaging campaign.
A joint update from the the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), Bingo Association, Lotteries Council and amusements representative Bacta detailed that a ‘blitz of safer gambling messaging’ will take place to drive a national responsibility conversation.
The announcement follows on from the BGC, Bacta and Bingo Association’s joint confirmation of a new Safer Game Design Code for gaming machines earlier this month, overhauling the products’ features.
Notably, the new initiative will see machines no longer celebrate wins of less than the stake with visual or auditory displays.
Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the BGC, said: “Safer Gambling Week is now an established annual event. We know that rates of problem gambling are low and are now falling, which is great news, but Safer Gambling Week is further evidence of the regulated industry’s determination to keep raising standards.
“BGC members demonstrate their commitment to safer gambling every day through initiatives such as the whistle to whistle ban on TV betting commercials during live sport and strict ID and age verification checks.”
At the 2022 Safer Gamlbing Week, the four organisations have pledged to ‘build on last year’s record breaking success’, as sessions on safer gambling websites increased by 79% on 2020.
Additionally, the groups noted that awareness of responsible gaming tools such as deposit limits had increased by 17% in comparison to the usual four-week average.
“Safer Gambling Week once again allows the industry to showcase its year-long commitment to safer gambling,” added John White, Chief Executive of Bacta.
“It also brings customer focus to the tools that are available to them if they in any way feel their gambling is becoming problematic. Those tools continue to grow as we learn more about safer gambling and form part of our ambition to cement social responsibility at the heart of our offer to the consumer.”
The BGC, Bingo Association, Lotteries Council and Bacta also observed that the number of social media impressions during the week rose by 16% to reach 24.5 million.
Lastly, the industry associations pointed to recent UK Gambling Commission data demonstrating that the problem gamlbing rate in March 2022 had fallen to 0.2%, down from 0.3% in February and 0.4% the previous year.
Miles Baron, Chief Executive of the Bingo Association, commented: “Safer Gambling Week is an important part of the bingo industry’s commitment to social responsibility and provides a useful focal point for highlighting activity and support that is available throughout the year.
“As venue-based businesses, the sector recognises the important opportunity we have to promote safer gambling messages and engage directly with customers.”