Key points:
- Safer Gambling Week 2024 runs from 18–24 November, promoting safer gambling tools and awareness
- Last year’s campaign saw record engagement, with significant increases in the use of responsible gambling tools
- Supported by the BGC, BACTA and the Bingo Association, the event aims to unite industry stakeholders to emphasise customer safety
The eighth annual Safer Gambling Week is set to take place from 18-24 November 2024, bringing together industry leaders, government officials and regulators to champion responsible gambling practices.
This collaborative initiative aims to spark a nationwide conversation about betting safely and highlight the tools available to help players maintain control.
Organised by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), BACTA and the Bingo Association, the week-long campaign ultimately hopes to protect individuals from potential gambling-related harm – with a focus on promoting responsible engagement.
Key stakeholders have emphasised the importance of the event. Minister for Gambling Baroness Twycross, for example, stated: "Safer Gambling Week is a good opportunity to recognise the important work being done to help protect those at risk of gambling harms.
"We welcome the industry using this week to highlight the tools and support available to prevent people suffering potentially life-changing harm. The Government is currently considering the full range of gambling policy and will update in due course."
Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, added: "Ensuring safety should always be central to every aspect of gambling.
"However, Safer Gambling Week offers a valuable chance to emphasise this priority even further. It also enables operators to exchange best practices, helping to make gambling in Britain among the safest experiences worldwide."
The campaign builds on achievements from previous years. In 2023, for instance, Safer Gambling Week saw record participation: over 50 million social media impressions were generated, and the use of safer gambling tools surged, with a 54% increase in players setting deposit limits – many for the first time.
The campaign also saw a 300% increase in players setting reality checks, demonstrating its success in encouraging proactive gambling management.
This year’s campaign aims to continue these trends, with expanded messaging across land-based venues and online platforms.
The new campaign also highlights the broader efforts of regulated operators who promote tools like deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion.
