Samaritans Criticised Over Paddy Power Betfair Partnership

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Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership

31 August 2019

ByDan Whitworth
Money Box press reporter

The charity Samaritans has come in for criticism over its relate to the wagering business Paddy Power Betfair.

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

But critics - consisting of relatives of individuals with betting issues who took their own lives - say it is risking its credibility by dealing with the company.

Both organisations say Samaritans' insight and knowledge will help Paddy Power Betfair enhance how it assists susceptible customers.

The partnership includes activities such as fundraising, corporate donation and offering.

Samaritans says it will likewise help it continue its work "to try to reduce the yohaig code variety of deaths by suicide".

"Appalling"

But John Myers, who lost his son Ryan five years ago when he took his own life aged 27 after ending up being addicted to betting, said that was not a great enough factor.

"I'm extremely disappointed in the Samaritans.

"They're a charitable organisation so they need to get cash from other individuals, anywhere they can. But to throw yourself in with the devil I don't believe is right.

"this promotion code market has actually destroyed households and destroyed lives.

"To even believe about lying in bed with these people is wrong and I believe they must reassess it and stop taking their money."

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

"At finest this promotion code is horrible and at worst it's appalling," she said.

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

"For me it legitimises this promotion code business. I've fulfilled numerous individuals who have actually lost liked ones, livelihoods and homes through addiction to gambling.

"Everything Samaritans does is to try to resolve the issues that all betting business have a role to play in creating.

" [Samaritans] need to get back to basics and keep doing what's it's been respected for doing for years - its wonderful work."

In declarations both organisations said the partnership will not just assist Samaritans' fundraising efforts, but its insight and knowledge will likewise assist Paddy Power Betfair care for vulnerable consumers and establish and strengthen its policies in this promotion code area.

Paddy Power Betfair included it is "eager to gain from the yohaig code fantastic work the Samaritans currently do, in order to continuously improve our accountable betting tools and interactions".

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