Responsible Gambling Among Football Clubs in the UK

The United Kingdom offers one of the biggest markets for the gambling industry. Any form of gambling is regarded as a popular recreation among English citizens. As widespread internet gambling took place, the barriers between the players and the activity gradually depleted which in turn gave rise to overindulgence. This has further led people into facing major losses as an active interest turns into serious addictive issues.

Football is the most popular spectator sport in the UK and possesses a high limit of control over the population. As a result, immensely influential among the masses. The sports betting industry is highly supported by football clubs. In order to safeguard the public and the team members from facing losses due to gambling-related harms, the football clubs of the UK came forward with an initiative to support the cause by promoting the goal of safe gambling practices. Various collective efforts have been made to keep gambling addiction at bay by collaborating with GamStop.

About GamStop

GamStop is a national self-exclusion scheme powered by the government of the UK to support the self-exclusion of problematic punters. This serves the entire population of the UK free of cost. The goal of this organization is to share the word of safe gambling practices all across the United Kingdom. However, only UK gambling companies are obligated to join it and there are many other non GamStop betting sites like on nongamstopbets which decided to stay away from this program. The football clubs as well as these organizations function and thrive based on their interdependence. These organizations supply the football clubs with enough funding and resources to maintain their glory and in return, the football clubs provide the organization with the exposure that they require in order to meet the goals they have for the future.

Football Clubs Associated with GamStop

According to the updated regulations of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, football clubs have to compulsorily stick to the updated guidelines of the government that deal with their participation in safe gambling practices collaborating with GamStop.

Middlesbrough Football Club

Middlesbrough Football Club collaborated with GamStop in order to make it prominent that they stand by the government and its updated policies. This further represents that the management is enough concerned about the lifestyle of both the members and the citizens. They clearly denounced the corruption which is a byproduct of the recently over-popularized gambling industry. This step majorly impacted GamStop as it started gaining the media attention it required to spread the word among the masses. The match days did the cause a favour in stirring up awareness.

Luton Town Football Club

Luton Town Football Club was among the foremost to join hands with the cause. This club has a big history and legendary logo that millions of fans should know. Their collaboration with GamStop was a sign of solidarity towards the people and their families who were affected by gambling overindulgence. Their promotion of moderation in gambling practices was not just limited to the match days but the promotional campaign for the same cause was carried out all over their websites and social media handles.

Safer Gambling Week and the Participants

A number of organizations take part in the support of Safer Gambling Week including eminent names from the gambling industry and also from outside the community. The purpose can be both non-commercial and commercial. Major organizations like Facebook have been a part of the campaign. The event is held once every year with the main purpose of gaining the media attention to redirect it towards the cause of spreading the word of safe gambling. Generation of awareness is solely to liberate people from problem gambling addiction.

Swansea City believed that the effective way to keep safer gambling practices running is to preach about it. Only by cutting down the negative influence can one achieve healthy gambling practices among the people. To support the cause the players of this team feature a logo of safe gambling which not only spreads the message but brings home numerous sponsorship deals.

West Ham United, a Premier League club also engages in the support of the Safer Gambling campaign in the year 2019. The bagged sponsorships like Sky Bet as well as acquired the support of ELF in the process. They go with the same purpose of positively influencing the fans and preaching the services of GamStop. In the year 2020, West Ham United was seen partnering up with Betway in the Safer Gambling Week.

Concluding Thoughts

The collaboration of GamStop with the Football Clubs is a mutually beneficial pact however in this process the football clubs often have to cut all ties with the casino and other gambling ads they were previously featuring. As a good example, Middlesbrough FC was one of the first clubs which partnered with GamStop and started this trend. Nevertheless, this can be financially harmful which often leads them into searching for alternative sponsors for gathering funding.