Gambling with Lives launches first-ever fundraising appeal
Charity reaches out to community to further support its education, treatment and lobbying aspirations
Gambling with Lives has launched its first-ever fundraising appeal as it looks to ramp up its support for families impacted by gambling-related suicide.
The charity is looking to raise £30,000 throughout June and will use the funds raised to continue to provide mental health, practical and legal support to families.
Gambling with Lives said it would look to provide support via inquests into gambling-related suicides, probate support and advice and events to bring impacted families together.
In a statement, Gambling with Lives said: “Every single day in the UK at least one person takes their life because of gambling. Each death is a shattered family.
“The children, parents, partners and siblings left behind often don’t understand what has happened to their loved ones.
“Gambling companies are acting with near impunity, running mass-advertising campaigns encouraging people to lose large amounts of money quickly on addictive products, offering free bets and bonuses, with dedicated staff pushing people to bet more, making it near impossible for people to stop until it’s too late.”
While Gambling with Lives does offer education and treatment programmes, it is not on the Gambling Commission’s list of approved organisations for research, education and treatment funding from licensed operators.
The charity was founded in 2018 and has become a major lobbying force in the industry while advocating for strong restrictions on the sector and the removal of advertising.