Key points:
- Safer Gambling Week 2024 runs from November 18–24, emphasising tools like deposit limits and time-outs
- Last year’s event saw record participation, with significant increases in the use of safer gambling tools
- The campaign is supported by cross-party Parliamentarians and industry leaders
Safer Gambling Week 2024, running from 18-24 November, has garnered support from Parliamentarians across the political spectrum, including Ministers and Shadow Ministers.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), BACTA and the Bingo Association, is a collaborative effort to promote responsible gambling practices across the UK.
The week-long campaign seeks to spark a nationwide conversation about betting safely while emphasising tools that help players maintain control, such as deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion options.
Both online platforms and land-based venues are participating, with a surge in messaging aimed at raising awareness of gambling-related risks and the resources available to address them.
Key figures have voiced their support for the campaign. 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, CEO 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 the success of previous years, including record engagement in 2023. Last year, safer gambling tools saw a notable uptick in usage: a 54% increase in players setting deposit limits and a 300% rise in the activation of reality checks.
With over 50 million social media impressions, the campaign has demonstrated its effectiveness in encouraging responsible betting behaviours.
This year’s initiative aims to expand its reach even further, strengthening the industry's collective efforts to ensure customer safety remains a priority.
