New GambleAware Campaign Launched Ahead of World Cup

Ahead of the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup next week, GambleAware has launched a new safer gambling campaign.

A recent survey conducted by Opinium of 2000 football fans found that 61% of people believe that there are too many gambling adverts during the World Cup and other international tournaments. Furthermore, 28% of respondents said that they are anxious about how much they may lose while betting on the World Cup and 56% said that it is easy to lose more money than expected.

This should be an enjoyable time for all football fans, but with the sheer volume of football and the amount of betting ads, it can be easy to get carried away with betting – and we can see that many fans are already feeling anxious about this. As the cost-of-living crisis bites and people feel the pinch in the run-up to Christmas, this could create a ‘perfect storm’ where fans resort to gambling as a way to cope. This can have the opposite effect, both financially and in terms of mental health. There are lots of ways to avoid ‘Bet Regret’ – the sinking feeling you get after making a bet you wish you hadn’t – from deleting apps, to setting a limit. These steps can help fans enjoy the football this winter without feeling stress or anxiety around gambling.

Zoë OsmondGambleAware Chief Executive

The campaign is being run in collaboration with the Football Supporters Association (FSA) and a number of former professional footballers such as Peter Shilton, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Lee Hendrie. The aim is to raise awareness of the early warning signs of gambling addiction and provide fans with practical advice about how to enjoy the World Cup and avoid “Bet Regret”.

Paul Scully, the UK Gambling Minister, welcomed the new campaign and added that the government is “undertaking the most comprehensive review of gambling laws in 15 years to ensure they are fit for the digital age, including considering the evidence on gambling advertising and marketing.”