Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership
31 August 2019
ByDan Whitworth
Money Box press reporter
The charity Samaritans has actually come in for criticism over its relate to the Paddy Power Betfair.
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Staff at the group chose Samaritans as their Charity of the Year.
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But critics - including family members of people with betting problems who took their own lives - say it is risking its reputation by working with the company.
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Both organisations say Samaritans' insight and knowledge will assist Paddy Power Betfair enhance how it assists vulnerable consumers.
The collaboration includes activities such as fundraising, corporate contribution and offering.
Samaritans says it will also assist it continue its work "to attempt to decrease the number of deaths by suicide".
"Appalling"
But John Myers, who lost his son Ryan 5 years back when he took his own life aged 27 after ending up being addicted to betting, said that was not a good sufficient reason.
"I'm incredibly dissatisfied in the Samaritans.
"They're a charitable organisation so they need to get cash from other people, anywhere they can. But to throw yourself in with the devil I do not think is right.
"This market has damaged households and ruined lives.
"To even consider depending on bed with these individuals is wrong and I believe they should reassess it and stop taking their money."
Carolyn Harris, chairwoman of the yohaig code 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 appalling," she stated.
"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to a market with a reputation for being accountable for suicides through dependency to gaming - it troubles me.
"For me it legitimises this business. I've satisfied numerous people who've lost liked ones, livelihoods and homes through addiction to gaming.
"Everything Samaritans does is to try to fix the problems that all betting companies have a role to play in developing.
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" [Samaritans] ought to get back to essentials and keep doing what's it's been respected for doing for years - its great work."
In declarations both organisations stated the partnership will not simply help Samaritans' fundraising efforts, however its insight and knowledge will also help Paddy Power Betfair care for susceptible consumers and establish and strengthen its policies in this promotion code location.
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Paddy Power Betfair added it is "eager to gain from the wonderful work the Samaritans already do, in order to continually enhance our accountable gaming 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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Samaritans Criticised Over Paddy Power Betfair Partnership
clydesteiner79 edited this page 2025-10-18 23:32:16 +02:00