Championship football team, Swansea City has now launched a new responsible gambling project with the aim of helping protect supporters from gambling-related harms, while also educating players about the risks which are involved with betting.
The Wales-based football club is currently playing in the English Championship, and they have made a number of commitments as to how it will manage its relationships with gambling operators.
The ‘Responsible Gambling Pledge’ forms part of a wider initiative at Swansea, whereby it will appoint fans as ‘Champion Jacks’ to work with the club on its decision-making processes around various issues. Student, Ben Church is the first Champion Jack and he’s played a role in helping the club develop its new responsible gambling plan.
While the club will still continue to work with gambling partners, after they agreed a shirt sponsorship deal with online operator YOBET in July for the 2019-20 season, it will introduce a number of new restrictions on such partnerships.
This will see it restrict betting adverts across its official club website, social media channels, marketing materials and both matchday and community activities. In addition to this, the club will ensure all of its playing staff will take part in a betting education program while having access to support networks and treatments for gambling-related problems if required.
Ben Church, 18, student, said: “Swansea City believes that sponsorship by betting and gaming companies must be conducted in a socially responsible way.
“It should aim to balance promotional opportunities with measures that help preserve the welfare of those playing or watching and who could be at risk of becoming addicted to gambling or be addicted to gambling already.
“Responsible gambling is an area I feel passionate about and I hope to make a difference.”
Swansea City is the latest professional football club to champion responsible gambling, with a variety of other teams having joined forces with Paddy Power one the bookmaker’s ‘Save Our Shirt’ campaign.
Launched through a partnership with Huddersfield Town FC, Save Our Shirt sees Paddy Power call for betting operators to stop striking football shirt sponsorship deals. GVC Holdings meanwhile, has donated its football sponsorship assets to problem gambling charity, GambleAware.
