Samaritans Criticised Over Paddy Power Betfair Partnership
Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership
31 August 2019
ByDan Whitworth
Money Box press reporter
The charity Samaritans has come in for criticism over its links with the betting company Paddy Power Betfair.
Staff at the group selected Samaritans as their Charity of the Year.
But critics - consisting of family members of people with betting problems who took their own lives - state it is risking its credibility by dealing with the firm.
Both organisations say Samaritans' insight and expertise will help Paddy Power Betfair enhance how it assists susceptible clients.
The collaboration involves activities such as fundraising, corporate contribution and volunteering.
Samaritans says it will likewise help it continue its work "to attempt to decrease the number of deaths by suicide".
"Appalling"
But John Myers, who lost his child Ryan 5 years earlier when he took his own life aged 27 after becoming addicted to gaming, said that was not a great adequate reason.
"I'm incredibly disappointed in the Samaritans.
"They're a charitable organisation so they require to get money from other people, anywhere they can. But to throw yourself in with the devil I don't think is right.
"This industry has actually destroyed families and ruined lives.
"To even think of lying in bed with these individuals is incorrect and I think they ought to reassess 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 best this is distasteful and at worst it's dreadful," she said.
"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to an industry with a credibility for being accountable for suicides through addiction to gambling - it problems me.
Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership
31 August 2019
ByDan Whitworth
Money Box press reporter
The charity Samaritans has come in for criticism over its links with the betting company Paddy Power Betfair.
Staff at the group selected Samaritans as their Charity of the Year.
But critics - consisting of family members of people with betting problems who took their own lives - state it is risking its credibility by dealing with the firm.
Both organisations say Samaritans' insight and expertise will help Paddy Power Betfair enhance how it assists susceptible clients.
The collaboration involves activities such as fundraising, corporate contribution and volunteering.
Samaritans says it will likewise help it continue its work "to attempt to decrease the number of deaths by suicide".
"Appalling"
But John Myers, who lost his child Ryan 5 years earlier when he took his own life aged 27 after becoming addicted to gaming, said that was not a great adequate reason.
"I'm incredibly disappointed in the Samaritans.
"They're a charitable organisation so they require to get money from other people, anywhere they can. But to throw yourself in with the devil I don't think is right.
"This industry has actually destroyed families and ruined lives.
"To even think of lying in bed with these individuals is incorrect and I think they ought to reassess 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 best this is distasteful and at worst it's dreadful," she said.
"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to an industry with a credibility for being accountable for suicides through addiction to gambling - it problems me.