Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership
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 chose Samaritans as their Charity of the Year.
But critics - including loved ones of individuals with betting problems who took their own lives - state it is risking its reputation by working with the company.
Both organisations state Samaritans' insight and proficiency will help Paddy Power Betfair enhance how it helps susceptible customers.
The partnership includes activities such as fundraising, business donation and volunteering.
Samaritans says it will also help it continue its work "to try to decrease the variety of deaths by suicide".
"Appalling"
But John Myers, who lost his boy Ryan five years earlier when he took his own life aged 27 after ending up being addicted to gaming, said that was not a good sufficient factor.
"I'm very dissatisfied in the Samaritans.
"They're a charitable organisation so they need to get cash from other individuals, any place they can. But to throw yourself in with the devil I do not think is right.
"this promotion code industry has actually ruined households and destroyed lives.
"To even consider lying in bed with these individuals is wrong and I believe 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 finest this is horrible and at worst it's appalling," she said.
"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to a market with a track record for being accountable for suicides through addiction to gambling - it difficulties me.
"For me it legitimises this promotion code organization. I've fulfilled many people who have actually lost enjoyed ones, incomes and homes through addiction to gambling.
"Everything Samaritans does is to try to fix the issues that all gambling companies have a function to play in developing.
" [Samaritans] should return to essentials and keep doing what's it's been appreciated for doing for years - its wonderful work."
In declarations both organisations stated the partnership will not just help Samaritans' fundraising efforts, but its insight and know-how will likewise help Paddy Power Betfair look after susceptible customers and establish and enhance its policies in this promotion code area.
Paddy Power Betfair added it is "keen to gain from the yohaig code great work the Samaritans currently do, in order to continuously enhance our responsible gambling 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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