The Council says the organisations will work together to renew their goal to champion higher standards in the betting and gaming industry.
BGC Chief Executive, Michael Dugher, said: “As the standards body representing the regulated betting and gaming industry, the BGC is delighted to support Safer Gambling Week 2021.
“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 that are commonplace among our members.”
The annual campaign has been running since 2017, when the organisation that came before the BGC collaborated with others for the first time to promote Responsible Gambling Week.
Similarly, this year the event will see a “blitz” of safer gambling messages in land-based venues and on online sites.
The BGC says last year’s campaign reported a 19% increase in social media impressions, as posts related to Safer Gambling Week in 2020 were seen by 19 million people.
Likewise, operators also reported positive news, with the number of customers using safer gambling tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion increasing.
This year, the BGC says every arm of the regulated betting and gaming industry will come together to encourage staff, customers and the general public to discuss safer gambling.
The Bingo Association Chief Executive, Miles Baron, 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.
Bacta Chief Executive, John White, added: “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.”
The BGC says organisations wishing to become a registered supporter for Safer Gambling Week 2021 can register online.
It remains to be seen if genuine responsible gambling progress can be made this year, rather than just rhetoric that isn't followed by operators dealing with vulnerable customers.
