Samaritans Criticised Over Paddy Power Betfair Partnership

Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair collaboration

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31 August 2019

ByDan Whitworth
Money Box reporter

The charity Samaritans has come in for criticism over its relate to the wagering business Paddy Power Betfair.

Staff at the group chose Samaritans as their Charity of the yohaig code Year.

But critics - consisting of relatives of people with gaming problems who took their own lives - state it is risking its track record by dealing with the firm.

Both organisations state Samaritans' insight and expertise will assist Paddy Power Betfair improve how it helps susceptible clients.

The collaboration includes activities such as fundraising, business contribution and volunteering.

Samaritans states it will also help it continue its work "to try to lower the number of deaths by suicide".

"Appalling"

But John Myers, who lost his boy Ryan 5 years back when he took his own life aged 27 after becoming addicted to betting, said that was not a sufficient factor.

"I'm very dissatisfied in the Samaritans.

"They're a charitable organisation so they need to get cash from other individuals, anywhere they can. But to throw yourself in with the devil I don't think is right.

"this promotion code market has destroyed families and damaged lives.

"To even believe about lying in bed with these people is incorrect and I think they need to reassess it and stop taking their money."

Carolyn Harris, chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm, told the BBC she had issues about the tie-up.

"At finest this is horrible and at worst it's terrible," she stated.

"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to a market with a reputation for being accountable for suicides through dependency to betting - it problems me.

"For me it legitimises this service. I've satisfied so many individuals who have actually lost enjoyed ones, incomes and homes through dependency to betting.

"Everything Samaritans does is to try to fix the problems that all betting companies have a function to play in producing.

" [Samaritans] need to get back to essentials and keep doing what's it's been respected for providing for years - its fantastic work."

In declarations both organisations stated the partnership will not just help Samaritans' fundraising efforts, but its insight and competence will likewise help Paddy Power Betfair take care of susceptible consumers and establish and strengthen its policies in this area.

Paddy Power Betfair added it is "keen to gain from the wonderful work the Samaritans currently do, in order to continuously improve our responsible gaming tools and interactions".

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