Saints team up to support Safer Gambling Week

Safer Gambling Week, from 17th to 23rd October, is a campaign led by the betting industry to promote tools that are available to help people bet safely all year round, as well as providing resources for more advice and support.

Ahead of the week officially starting, the club worked with Better Change and Recover Me on a range of matchday pop-up support and information stations at our game against West Ham. As part of the activation, fans were able to receive safer gambling advice and were encouraged to attend a short session with an expert from Better Change should they wish to discuss how gambling impacts their lives.

For anyone who requires additional support, we are pleased to announce that our friends at Better Change will be offering a free online session with a gambling therapy expert for up to one month after the game against West Ham should they wish to discuss how gambling impacts their lives.

Sarah Batters, Marketing and Partnerships Director at Southampton Football Club said: “As a club, we recognise that betting often forms part of a fan's experience and can enhance their enjoyment of a football match. However, we must accept our responsibility in ensuring that gambling is conducted safely and responsibly - and raise awareness of the support available for those who might need it, both on matchdays and non-matchdays.

“Safer Gambling Week is a great opportunity to do this, and we’re glad the initiative was so warmly received by our fans.”

David Richardson, Better Change Strategic Partnerships Manager added: “It is a very exciting project for both Better Change and Southampton and shows that collaboration within the safer gambling space is not solely between operators and service providers. Better Change aims to reduce gambling-related harm but is certainly not anti-gambling. It was clear that from the first contact with Southampton they wanted to do something to make an impact, and not just something to tick a box.

"The Halo effect, the club’s sustainability strategy, has perfect synergy with the mission and beliefs of Better Change. The fact we offered a provision of help and support to fans on the initial matchday against West Ham, and beyond, is relatively unique. Its aim is to show the fans how important they are to the club and give something back which could have tremendous value for certain individuals.”

Minal Jain, Co-Founder of RecoverMe said: "Southampton Football Club has always demonstrated a real drive to support safer gambling for the football community. This matchday activation is another innovative way that we at RecoverMe, hope to work together with the club, to increase the awareness around this subject as well as encourage discussions about sports betting and gambling addiction with fans.

“Our partnership with Southampton FC over the last three years has been instrumental in promoting RecoverMe, a unique mobile health app that provides support to those with a gambling addiction, to thousands across the globe. A simple download on an individual’s smartphone can offer an opportunity to start their recovery journey both discreetly and flexibly. We want to engage with Southampton FC fans to increase awareness and ensure that if sports betting becomes harmful then they have immediate support available.”

The club has a history of supporting Safer Gambling Week and has partnered with its main club partner Sportsbet.io to promote responsible gambling. In 2020, the club teamed up with Sportsbet.io to launch the ‘Listen to the Saint in you’ initiative, which called on fans to be precautious before gambling. The club also creating a dedicated webpage to support safer gambling, where fans can seek information, enquire, and even reach out for help.

The club also supported the launch of RecoverMe’s mobile app providing fans with free licenses, and continues to work to help those who suffer from a gambling problem. The app provides sessions on mindfulness in association with cognitive behavioural therapy and other tools that ensure gambling takes place only when it is safe and responsible.

This is the club’s first year working with Better Change, an organisation that partners with operators to help them raise standards through improved compliance, innovative social responsibility strategies, and more robust safer gambling tools to maximise player protection.

The club’s work in this area is part of its social responsibility pledge within The Halo Effect, which is committed to ensuring a sustainable future for the club, its fans, and its community. Through various initiatives, Southampton Football Club seeks to ensure the city and the surrounding region can thrive as a place to work, live, and prosper individually and collectively.