Betting and Gaming Council chair claims campaigners “simply dislike betting and gaming”
Brigid Simmonds says reformists defy “logic” and “common sense” in undermining efforts around Safer Gambling Week
Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) chair Brigid Simmonds has slammed “so-called campaigners”, and suggested reform groups have no interest in improving standards in the industry.
In an op-ed for Politics Home, published today,Simmonds said recent campaigns that moved to dismiss the achievements of Safer Gambling Week showed reformists were not concerned with supporting those at-risk.
Safer Gambling Week, which ran from 17 October to 23 October last year, recorded 50 million social media impressions, up 70% on 2022’s performance.
Additionally, the Safer Gambling Week website received more than 500,000 visits over the seven days.
However, the scheme has faced criticism from reformists and anti-industry bodies. Christian Action Research and Education labelled the week as a “cynical stunt” while Gambling with Lives previously described it as a “cringe campaign”.
Simmonds wrote: “It defies logic that still now, in this seventh year of Safer Gambling Week, we have so-called campaigners tripping over themselves to attack and undermine it.
“It is also defies common sense that they should do so, while demanding the industry does more to drive up standards. When they criticise in this way, they show their true colours.
“They are not interested in genuine attempts to drive up standards – they simply dislike betting and gaming – and by extension, dislike those who enjoy it.”
Simmonds proceeded to argue for the benefits of the campaign, citing government support and growing social media impressions.
She added: “The entire campaign was constructed to spark a conversation, to breakdown the stigma and cut through the misunderstandings that often exist around betting. And we know this focused promotion works.”
The BGC chair took yet another swipe at reformists, calling them “detractors”, as she insisted the scheme would be back with a greater presence and reach for its eighth year in 2024.
She continued: “While they tie themselves in knots attacking something obviously sensible and positive, we’ll get on with the job.
“Safer Gambling Week will be back this year, we will raise our sights to promote safer gambling tools to even more people, to reach an even greater audience with messaging which signposts to the help and support available to those struggling. We will do so because, whatever the detractors say, Safer Gambling Week works.”