samaritans-criticised-over-paddy-power-betfair-partnership

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Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership
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31 August 2019
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ByDan Whitworth Money Box press reporter

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

Staff at the group selected Samaritans as their Charity of the Year.
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But critics - including family members of people with betting issues who took their own lives - state it is risking its reputation by dealing with the company.

Both organisations say Samaritans' insight and proficiency will assist Paddy Power Betfair enhance how it helps vulnerable clients.

The collaboration involves activities such as fundraising, corporate contribution and offering.

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

"Appalling"

But John Myers, who lost his child Ryan five years earlier when he took his own life aged 27 after ending up being addicted to gambling, said that was not a sufficient factor.
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"I'm extremely disappointed in the Samaritans.

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

"This industry has ruined households and destroyed lives.

"To even think of lying in bed with these individuals is wrong and I believe they ought to rethink it and stop taking their cash."
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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 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 dependency to gaming - it troubles me.

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

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

" [Samaritans] must return to essentials and keep doing what's it's been appreciated for providing for years - its wonderful work."

In statements both organisations stated the collaboration will not simply help Samaritans' fundraising efforts, but its insight and expertise will also help Paddy Power for susceptible consumers and develop and reinforce its policies in this area.

Paddy Power Betfair added it is "eager to discover from the wonderful work the Samaritans already do, in order to constantly improve our responsible 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.

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