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Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair collaboration
31 August 2019
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ByDan Whitworth
Money Box reporter
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The charity Samaritans has actually come in for criticism over its links with the yohaig code betting company Paddy Power Betfair.
Staff at the group selected Samaritans as their Charity of the Year.
But critics - including loved ones of people with betting issues who took their own lives - state it is risking its track record by working with the company.
Both organisations say Samaritans' insight and know-how will help Paddy Power Betfair enhance how it assists vulnerable clients.
the yohaig code partnership involves activities such as fundraising, business donation and offering.
Samaritans states it will also help it continue its work "to attempt to decrease the variety of deaths by suicide".
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"Appalling"
But John Myers, who lost his child Ryan five years back when he took his own life aged 27 after becoming addicted to gaming, stated that was not a good sufficient factor.
"I'm exceptionally dissatisfied in the Samaritans.
"They're a charitable organisation so they need to get money from other individuals, anywhere they can. But to throw yourself in with the devil I don't think is right.
"this promotion code industry has actually destroyed families and ruined lives.
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"To even think of on bed with these people is incorrect and I think they should reconsider it and stop taking their money."
Carolyn Harris, chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm, told the BBC she had concerns about the tie-up.
"At best this promotion code is horrible and at worst it's appalling," she said.
"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to an industry with a reputation for being accountable for suicides through dependency to gambling - it problems me.
"For me it legitimises this promotion code service. I've satisfied many individuals who have actually lost liked ones, livelihoods and homes through addiction to gambling.
"Everything Samaritans does is to attempt to resolve the issues that all gambling companies have a role to play in developing.
" [Samaritans] should get back to basics and keep doing what's it's been appreciated for providing for years - its fantastic work."
In declarations both organisations said the collaboration will not just help Samaritans' fundraising efforts, however its insight and proficiency will also help Paddy Power Betfair take care of vulnerable customers and establish and strengthen its policies in this location.
Paddy Power Betfair added it is "eager to find out from the fantastic work the Samaritans already do, in order to continuously enhance our accountable gambling tools and interactions".
You can hear more on BBC Radio 4's Money Box program on Saturday at 12pm or listen again here.
Follow Money Box, external and Dan, external on twitter.
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Samaritans Criticised Over Paddy Power Betfair Partnership
doreenkhan6915 edited this page 2025-09-22 22:38:15 +08:00