The safer gambling groups GamCare, GamBan and GAMSTOP, have teamed up to launch the new campaign #TalkBanStop, in order to promote their responsible gambling tools and services to the public.
This marks the latest responsible gambling campaign to be launched in the UK.
The #TalkBanStop campaign
According to the announcement, the #TalkBanStop campaign will launch in spring and is intended to encourage the UK public to make the most of the free tools available to control their gambling spend, use support services and seek professional advice about gambling-related concerns.
This marks the first time that GamCare, GamBan and GAMSTOP have teamed up to promote their services.
The campaign is split into three segments, #Talk, #Ban and #Stop.
The #Talk segment of the campaign revolves around the promotion of GamCare’s 24/7 free phone service which provides vulnerable people with direct access to trained gambling harm experts and advisers.
The #Ban portion of the campaign refers to GamBan’s blocking software which users can download across all of their digital devices to block access to all online gambling sites.
The #Stop segment of the new campaign aims to raise awareness of GAMSTOP’s self-exclusion programme. This self-exclusion system blocks users from having any form of interaction with gambling operators which includes gambling sites, creating new accounts and receiving marketing and promotional material.
The tools and services being promoted by the campaign are backed by the National Gambling Treatment Service as essential layers of protection for people struggling to control their gambling habits.
The campaign announcement stated: “We know that lockdown has been a troubling time for many people. To help people struggling to control their gambling, and their loved ones, our new campaign TalkBanStop is encouraging people to make the most of free tools and support that are available this spring.”
Another responsible gambling campaign
The #TalkBanStop campaign is the latest responsible gambling campaign in the UK. Safer gambling organisations have ramped up their messaging over the last year as a result of challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.
With high levels of unemployment, financial uncertainty and the coronavirus restrictions that have been implemented, there have been concerns that more people are at risk of developing dangerous gambling habits.
Last month GambleAware launched the “There, but not There” campaign which aimed to raise awareness of its problem gambling treatment and support services among women aged 18-54 years old.
The launch of this campaign came after GAMSTOP revealed that more than 55,000 women have used the self-exclusion tool to block themselves from all gambling sites.
The new figures suggested that problem gambling may be growing among female players.
GambleAware also launched another phase of its campaign to promote the National Gambling Treatment Service (NGTS).
The charity began promoting its “Start to Regain Control” campaign, which is intended to raise awareness of the NGTS among vulnerable audiences across the UK’s highest risk areas, during the first half of 2021.