Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair collaboration

31 August 2019

ByDan Whitworth Money Box press reporter

The charity Samaritans has actually come in for criticism over its relate to the yohaig code wagering company Paddy Power Betfair.
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Staff at the group chose Samaritans as their Charity of the Year.

But critics - consisting of family members of individuals with gaming issues who took their own lives - say it is risking its reputation by dealing with the firm.

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

The collaboration includes activities such as fundraising, corporate contribution and volunteering.
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Samaritans states it will also help it continue its work "to try to minimize the variety of deaths by suicide".

"Appalling"

But John Myers, who lost his kid Ryan 5 years back when he took his own life aged 27 after ending up being addicted to betting, stated that was not a great adequate factor.
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"I'm exceptionally dissatisfied in the yohaig code Samaritans.

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

"this promotion code market has actually destroyed households and destroyed lives.
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"To even consider lying in bed with these individuals is incorrect and I believe they need to reassess it and stop taking their money."
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Carolyn Harris, chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm, informed the BBC she had issues about the tie-up.
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"At finest this is horrible and at worst it's terrible," she stated.

"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to an industry with a credibility for being accountable for suicides through dependency to gambling - it troubles me.

"For me it legitimises this promotion code service. I have actually fulfilled a lot of individuals who have actually lost loved ones, incomes and homes through dependency to gaming.

"Everything Samaritans does is to attempt to solve the issues that all gambling companies have a function to play in producing.
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" [Samaritans] need to get back to basics and keep doing what's it's been respected for doing for years - its fantastic work."

In declarations both organisations stated the collaboration will not simply assist Samaritans' fundraising efforts, but its insight and expertise will also help Paddy Power Betfair take care of susceptible consumers and establish and strengthen its policies in this promotion code area.

Paddy Power Betfair added it is "eager to gain from the great work the Samaritans currently do, in order to continually enhance our accountable gambling tools and interactions".

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

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