Samaritans Criticised Over Paddy Power Betfair Partnership

Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership

31 August 2019

ByDan Whitworth
Money Box reporter

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

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

But critics - including loved ones of people with gambling problems who took their own lives - state it is risking its reputation by working with the yohaig code firm.

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

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

Samaritans states it will also assist it continue its work "to attempt to lower the number 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 becoming addicted to gambling, stated that was not an excellent adequate reason.

"I'm very dissatisfied in the Samaritans.

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"They're a charitable organisation so they require to get money from other individuals, wherever they can. But to throw yourself in with the devil I do not believe is right.

"This market has destroyed households and ruined lives.

"To even think of lying in bed with these individuals is incorrect and I think they need to reconsider it and stop taking their cash."

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

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

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

"For me it legitimises this service. I have actually fulfilled a lot of people who've lost liked ones, livelihoods and homes through dependency to gambling.

"Everything Samaritans does is to try to solve the problems that all gambling business have a role to play in developing.

" [Samaritans] should return to fundamentals and keep doing what's it's been respected for providing for years - its fantastic work."

In declarations both organisations stated the yohaig code partnership will not just help Samaritans' fundraising efforts, but its insight and competence will likewise assist Paddy Power Betfair look after vulnerable customers and develop and reinforce its policies in this promotion code area.

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

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