Ahead of the start of Euro 2020 on Friday 11 June, the safer gambling trio of GamCare, GamBan and GAMSTOP have relaunched their #TalkBanStop campaign.
#TalkBanStop was originally launched at the start of the year, with the safer gambling organisations promoting their gambling-harm prevention tools and support services to the general public.
The new campaign is fronted by Karen Carney MBE, England’s third-most capped player of all time, aiming to raise awareness of gambling support services during a period of heightened football activity.
GamCare, which operates the National Gambling Helpline, anticipates ‘a rise in women seeking help as a result of the Euros’.
During the FIFA 2018 World Cup, its helpline recorded a 14% increase in calls, with 85% registered by women as overall calls from gamblers increased by 5% during the tournament.
Anna Hemmings, CEO at GamCare, said: “Gambling is increasingly accessible to women, particularly online, as it feels discrete and doesn’t involve making a special trip, for example to a betting shop.
“We want to encourage anyone worried about themselves or someone else to contact us – we can offer expert advice and arrange for them to get the support they need. We want people to feel that taking the first step, by seeking non-judgmental help from our trained advisers, is a positive move, and get the free tools and support available through #TalkBanStop.”
The campaign forms part of GamCare’s new organisational strategy, in which the charity aims to break down social barriers with regards to providing treatment support for women, ethnic minorities and across low income communities.
With regards to female care, GamCare revealed that 82% of women that gamble use online services via their phone or personal devices, utilising games or apps, as opposed to taking part in gambling in person (such as at a casino or betting shop).
Supporting its new objectives, last week GamCare announced that it would maintain its dedicated women’s support programme, irrespective of the UK government easing national lockdown restrictions.
Carney MBE commented: “Campaigns like TalkBanStop are so important in raising awareness of the free resources available to everyone out there, particularly women who have battled with gambling around sport. Ahead of the upcoming Euros, it is important we raise awareness of the support that is available.”