GambleAware secures new partners for Bet Regret campaign

The problem gambling charity has signed up two partners to expand its audience for the next phase of its ongoing campaign.

UK.- The problem gambling charity GambleAware has secured two new partners to help promote the next phase of its Bet Regret safer gambling campaign, which launches this month.

Men’s weight loss charity Man v Fat and Supporters Direct Scotland, a group that aims to help fans gain influence and ownership of football clubs, will join existing supporters the Football Supporters Association (FSA) and Scottish Football Supporters Association.

The Bet Regret campaign is to be refreshed to coincide with the start of the new 2020-21 English football season on September 12.

GambleAware director of communications Zoe Osmond said: “These partnerships are vitally important to the safer gambling campaign and enable us to reach our target audience and make them aware of the new key campaign messages.

“We have chosen to work with these organisations in particular as we are confident they will help us share and promote our campaign message to encourage regular sports bettors to avoid impulsive bets so they can avoid the feeling of Bet Regret.”

The partnerships will involve a series of activities to raise awareness of the Bet Regret campaign and promote moderation of gambling behaviour. Campaign messages will also appear on Supporters Direct Scotland, Man v Fat and Scottish Football Supporters Association websites.

FSA deputy chief executive David Rose said: “The FSA is delighted to renew our partnership with GambleAware and to help educate football fans across the country about the risks of gambling and encourage those who choose to bet, to do so safely. It’s a very important message and one that we’re keen to help promote.”

Man v Fat will also train its coaches to talk to members about safer gambling and will publish talks from GambleAware on social media and video. The charity runs a weight loss programme for men with more than 80 locations across the UK.

The organisation’s head of football Richard Crick said: “Man v Fat Football [is] delighted to be working with GambleAware to bring greater insights to our players on the public health impacts of gambling.

“With football being the most prominent sport to gamble on in the UK, we felt that forging a partnership would be another avenue which will support members to be as healthy in body and mind as possible.”

The Bet Regret campaign was launched in February 2019 with a series of TV ads that aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of impulsive betting.

Last August, to coincide with the start of the last football season, GVC Holdings donated all branding rights from its football sponsorships to the campaign, which introduced the new tagline “think twice or you’ll Bet Regret it”. 

The campaign launched a web portal in January this year offering bettors information on safer gambling.

GambleAware, meanwhile, has called for standards to be introduced on gambling payment blockers.