Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair collaboration

31 August 2019

ByDan Whitworth Money Box reporter

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

Staff at the yohaig code group chose Samaritans as their Charity of the Year.
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But critics - including relatives of individuals with betting problems who took their own lives - state it is risking its credibility by working with the company.
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Both organisations state Samaritans' insight and knowledge will help Paddy Power Betfair enhance how it helps susceptible customers.

The partnership includes activities such as fundraising, corporate donation and offering.
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Samaritans states it will likewise help it continue its work "to attempt to minimize the yohaig code variety of deaths by suicide".

"Appalling"

But John Myers, who lost his son Ryan five years earlier when he took his own life aged 27 after becoming addicted to betting, stated that was not a sufficient factor.
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"I'm incredibly disappointed in the Samaritans.

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

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

"To even think of depending on bed with these people is wrong and I believe they need to it and stop taking their cash."

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 credibility for being accountable for suicides through dependency to betting - it troubles me.

"For me it legitimises this promotion code company. I have actually satisfied a lot of individuals who have actually lost enjoyed ones, incomes and homes through addiction to gaming.

"Everything Samaritans does is to try to solve the issues that all betting companies have a function to play in creating.

" [Samaritans] should get back to fundamentals and keep doing what's it's been appreciated for doing for years - its great work."

In declarations both organisations stated the partnership will not just help Samaritans' fundraising efforts, however its insight and proficiency will also assist Paddy Power Betfair care for susceptible clients and develop and strengthen its policies in this area.

Paddy Power Betfair included it is "keen to find out from the great work the Samaritans already do, in order to continually improve our accountable gaming tools and interactions".

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

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