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 relate to the wagering company Paddy Power Betfair.

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

But critics - including family members of people with betting issues who took their own lives - say it is risking its credibility by working with the company.

Both organisations say Samaritans' insight and knowledge will assist Paddy Power Betfair improve how it helps vulnerable clients.

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

Samaritans states it will likewise assist it its work "to try to reduce the yohaig code variety of deaths by suicide".

"Appalling"

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

"I'm extremely disappointed in the Samaritans.
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"They're a charitable organisation so they need to get money from other individuals, anywhere they can. But to toss yourself in with the devil I don't think is right.
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"This market has damaged households and destroyed lives.

"To even think of lying in bed with these individuals is incorrect and I think they ought 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 distasteful and at worst it's terrible," she said.
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"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to an industry with a track record for being accountable for suicides through addiction to gaming - it troubles me.

"For me it legitimises this organization. I've fulfilled numerous individuals who've lost liked ones, incomes and homes through dependency to gambling.

"Everything Samaritans does is to attempt to solve the problems that all betting business have a function to play in producing.
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" [Samaritans] need to return to basics and keep doing what's it's been respected for providing for years - its great work."

In statements both organisations stated the yohaig code collaboration will not simply help Samaritans' fundraising efforts, however its insight and expertise will also assist Paddy Power Betfair care for vulnerable consumers and establish and strengthen its policies in this area.

Paddy Power Betfair included it is "eager to find out from the great work the yohaig code Samaritans currently do, in order to continuously improve our accountable gambling tools and interactions".

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

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