Samaritans Criticised Over Paddy Power Betfair Partnership

Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership

31 August 2019

ByDan Whitworth
Money Box press reporter

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The charity Samaritans has come in for criticism over its links with the wagering company Paddy Power Betfair.

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

But critics - including loved ones of individuals with gambling issues who took their own lives - state it is risking its reputation by dealing with the firm.

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

The partnership involves activities such as fundraising, business donation and offering.

Samaritans states it will also help it continue its work "to attempt to reduce the variety of deaths by suicide".

"Appalling"

But John Myers, who lost his boy Ryan five years back when he took his own life aged 27 after becoming addicted to gambling, stated that was not an excellent enough reason.

"I'm extremely disappointed in the Samaritans.

"They're a charitable organisation so they require to get cash from other individuals, any place they can. But to toss yourself in with the devil I do not believe is right.

"this promotion code industry has actually destroyed households and damaged lives.

"To even think of lying in bed with these individuals is wrong and I believe they ought to reconsider it and stop taking their money."

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

"At finest this is distasteful and at worst it's terrible," she said.

"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to an industry with a track record for being accountable for suicides through addiction to betting - it problems me.

"For me it legitimises this promotion code organization. I've fulfilled numerous individuals who have actually lost loved ones, incomes and homes through dependency to betting.

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

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

In declarations both organisations said the partnership will not just assist Samaritans' fundraising efforts, however its insight and expertise will likewise help Paddy Power Betfair care for susceptible customers and develop and enhance its policies in this location.

Paddy Power Betfair included it is "keen to learn from the great work the yohaig code Samaritans already do, in order to continuously enhance our responsible betting tools and interactions".

You can hear more on BBC Radio 4's Money Box programme on Saturday at 12pm or listen again here.