European Safer Gambling Week to be organized by 13 gambling associations including EGBA and BGC in October

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) confirmed Thursday that the second edition of the European Safer Gambling Week (ESGW) will take place on 17-23 October 2022.

ESGW is an annual cross-industry initiative to promote safer gambling in Europe and is being organized by 13 European online gambling associations, including the EGBA, Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), BACTA, the Lotteries Council and the Bingo Association.

The first ESWG took place in 2021 and this year’s edition will see an extended number of participating associations across Europe, activities and safer gambling messages both online and in land-based venues. During the ESGW, there will be a range of practical activities organized across European countries to raise awareness about safer gambling amongst customers, gambling companies, regulatory authorities and share information about the latest developments in safer gambling regulations, the tools available to promote safer gambling, tips on how to gamble more safely, the latest research, among other topics.

📢 We're pleased to announce the second edition of the European Safer Gambling Week which is taking place on 17-23 October 2022. This year there are thirteen European online gambling associations participating, including the EGBA. More info: https://t.co/wUj7x0MFtP #safergambling pic.twitter.com/Lz7cfnstmW

— EGBA (@EUgambling) May 26, 2022

The annual campaign will build upon the record-breaking Safer Gambling Week 2021 during which the promotion and awareness of safer gambling tools such as deposit limits led to an increase by 17% in their use vs the previous 4-week average. The number of social media impressions for Safer Gambling Week 2021 – hit 24.5 million, an increase of 16% from the previous year. And sessions on the Safer Gambling website in 2021 were 79% up on the previous year.

A recent UK Gambling Commission report showed that the problem gambling rate in the year to March 2022 was 0.2% – down from 0.4%  the year previous and down from 0.3% in the last published annualised figures in February 2022.

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."

“Safer Gambling Week is a great opportunity to highlight this fantastic work – and emphasises the difference between the regulated industry and the unlicensed and illegal online black market, which has none of the safeguards which are commonplace among our members,” Dugher concluded.

Miles Baron, Chief Executive of the Bingo Association, said: “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.”

John White, Chief Executive of Bacta, said: “Safer Gambling Week once again allows the industry to showcase its year-long commitment to safer gambling. It also brings customer focus to the tools that are available to them if they in anyway 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.”