Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair collaboration
bit.ly
31 August 2019

ByDan Whitworth Money Box reporter

The charity Samaritans has come in for criticism over its links with the betting business Paddy Power Betfair.

Staff at the group picked Samaritans as their Charity of the Year.

But critics - consisting of loved ones of individuals with gaming issues who took their own lives - state it is risking its credibility by working with the company.

Both organisations state Samaritans' insight and knowledge will help Paddy Power Betfair enhance how it helps vulnerable clients.

The collaboration includes activities such as fundraising, business donation and volunteering.

Samaritans says it will also assist it continue its work "to attempt to lower the variety of deaths by suicide".

"Appalling"
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But John Myers, who lost his boy 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 enough reason.

"I'm very dissatisfied in the Samaritans.
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"They're a charitable organisation so they need to get money from other people, anywhere they can. But to toss yourself in with the devil I do not think is right.
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"This industry has ruined households and destroyed lives.

"To even think of depending on bed with these people is wrong and I think they need to reconsider it and stop taking their money."

Carolyn Harris, chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm, told the BBC she had issues about the tie-up.

"At best this promotion code is distasteful and at worst it's appalling," she stated.

"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to a market with a credibility for being accountable for suicides through addiction to gaming - it difficulties me.

"For me it legitimises this promotion code company. I've satisfied a lot of people who've lost liked ones, incomes and homes through dependency to gambling.

"Everything Samaritans does is to attempt to resolve the yohaig code problems that all have a role to play in producing.

" [Samaritans] ought to return to fundamentals and keep doing what's it's been appreciated for providing for years - its great work."

In declarations both organisations said the partnership will not simply help Samaritans' fundraising efforts, but its insight and expertise will also assist Paddy Power Betfair care for susceptible consumers and develop and reinforce its policies in this area.

Paddy Power Betfair added it is "eager to learn from the wonderful work the Samaritans already do, in order to continuously improve our accountable gaming tools and interactions".

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

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