Safer Gambling Week to return for sixth edition in November; BGC and UK stakeholders confirm support

The UK's Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has announced that it will once again back this year's Safer Gambling Week, following last year’s successful event. Along with the BGC, the event is also organized by BACTA, the Lotteries Council and the Bingo Association.

This is the sixth iteration of the event, which will take place from 13th – 19th November 2023 and will see the gambling industry coming together to further promote safer gambling messages, highlight the tools available to customers to stay in control and the support available to those who need it.

The event’s main objective is to promote safer gambling messages both online and in land-based venues, "to spark a nationwide conversation about betting responsibly," notes the BGC.

Safer Gambling Week's return follows 2022's successful campaign

Analysis of last year’s campaign in October revealed around 200,000 accounts set deposit limits during the month, an increase of 12.5% compared to the same month the year previous. Meanwhile, 61% of players setting deposit limits did so for the first time.

Safer Gambling Week will run from 13th – 19th November 2023 this year.

This year’s event will see the whole industry coming together in a concerted effort to further promote safer gambling messages and the safer gambling tools available. https://t.co/yU1spM7w3E#SGWeek23 pic.twitter.com/pBAsUauLCZ

— Safer Gambling Week (@SGWeek) May 31, 2023

Moreover, the number of players actively using reality checks - on-screen alerts tracking how long customers are playing - rose by 300%. Safer Gambling Week also surpassed previous social media records, generating nearly 30 million impressions on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, a 21% increase from 2021.

Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the BGC, said: “Safer Gambling Week is now an established annual event in the industry’s calendar, doing vital work promoting the safer gambling tools only available in the regulated betting and gaming sector and signposting help to those that need it.”

He further added: “All the recent data confirms what we already knew, that rates of problem gambling are consistently low, which is brilliant news, but Safer Gambling Week is an example of the regulated industry’s determination to keep raising standards. A recent Gambling Commission report showed that the problem gambling rate in the year to March 2023 was 0.3%.”

Dugher also said that 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 pre-watershed and offering a wide range of tools for use by punters.

We are delighted to support this year's Safer Gambling Week, which will build on the record breaking success of last year’s event. #SGWeek23 https://t.co/G478d11rVs

— Betting and Gaming Council (@BetGameCouncil) May 31, 2023

“It’s great to see that year-round commitment promoted and publicized so successfully in a single week – I know Safer Gambling Week 2023 will be another huge success,” Dugher concluded.

Miles Baron, Chief Executive of the Bingo Association, added: “The Bingo Association has been firmly behind Safer Gambling Week ever since the campaign started. Whilst it is important to act responsibly all year round, I think bringing the whole gambling sector together for one week to raise awareness of safer gambling through Safer Gambling Week is definitely the right thing to do and is still a hugely positive initiative.”

John White, Chief Executive of Bacta, said: “Safer Gambling is at the forefront of what Bacta members 'do’ on a daily basis. I’m delighted to say that we continue to make significant advances in delivering a safer gambling experience and helping to reduce further the extremely small number of consumers who do experience problems to their current record low levels.”

Last year’s event was supported by a number of cross-party senior MPs and peers, including then DCMS minister responsible for betting and gaming Damian Collins MP, and several shadow ministers including Shadow DCMS Secretary Lucy Powell MP. The event was also supported by DCMS and the Gambling Commission.

"Safer Gambling Week provides an opportunity to encourage businesses and organizations to start a conversation on responsible betting, not only with staff and customers but also with their friends and family," says the BGC.