Samaritans Criticised Over Paddy Power Betfair Partnership

Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership

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31 August 2019

ByDan Whitworth
Money Box reporter

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 yohaig code Year.

But critics - consisting of loved ones of people with gaming issues who took their own lives - say it is risking its track record by working with the firm.

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

the yohaig code partnership involves activities such as fundraising, business donation and offering.

Samaritans says it will likewise assist 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 ending up being addicted to gambling, said that was not a sufficient factor.

"I'm very 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 actually ruined families and destroyed lives.

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

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

"At best this promotion code is horrible and at worst it's appalling," she said.

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

"For me it legitimises this company. I've satisfied numerous people who've lost liked ones, incomes and homes through dependency to gambling.

"Everything Samaritans does is to attempt to fix the problems that all gambling business have a function to play in producing.

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

In declarations both organisations said the collaboration will not simply assist Samaritans' fundraising efforts, but its insight and competence will likewise assist Paddy Power Betfair care for susceptible clients and establish and enhance its policies in this location.

Paddy Power Betfair added it is "keen to find out from the fantastic work the yohaig code Samaritans currently do, in order to continuously enhance our accountable betting tools and interactions".

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