Samaritans Criticised Over Paddy Power Betfair Partnership

Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership

31 August 2019

ByDan Whitworth
Money Box reporter

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

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

But critics - including relatives of people with gambling problems who took their own lives - state it is risking its credibility by dealing with the company.

Both organisations state Samaritans' insight and knowledge will assist Paddy Power Betfair enhance how it assists susceptible consumers.

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The partnership involves activities such as fundraising, corporate contribution and volunteering.

Samaritans states it will likewise assist it continue its work "to attempt to lower the variety of deaths by suicide".

"Appalling"

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

"I'm exceptionally dissatisfied in the Samaritans.

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

"This industry has ruined households and damaged lives.

"To even believe about lying in bed with these people is wrong and I believe they ought to rethink it and stop taking their money."

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

"At best this promotion code is distasteful and at worst it's terrible," she stated.

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

"For me it legitimises this organization. I have actually satisfied a lot of people who have actually lost loved ones, incomes and homes through dependency to betting.

"Everything Samaritans does is to attempt to resolve the issues that all betting business have a function to play in producing.

" [Samaritans] should 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 help Samaritans' fundraising efforts, however its insight and proficiency will likewise help Paddy Power Betfair care for vulnerable clients and develop and enhance its policies in this promotion code area.

Paddy Power Betfair included it is "keen to gain from the great work the Samaritans currently do, in order to continuously enhance our accountable gaming tools and interactions".

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