Samaritan-Paddy Power partnership criticised

Earlier this month, it was announced that Paddy Power had chosen the Samaritans as its charity of the year and following this, a partnership was agreed. However, it is a move that has now raised a vast amount of criticism from various organisations within the UK.

The critics – some of whom are the relatives of problem gamblers who took their own life – argue that it is risking the reputation of the firm.

However, both the Samaritans and Paddy Power defended the move, arguing that their insight and experience would help them to help vulnerable customers. The new partnership will involve fundraising , corporate donation and volunteering. Additionally, the Samaritans argued that this will allow them to continue their suicide prevention measures. 

However, John Myers, who lost is 27-year-old son Ryan to suicide as a result of his gambling addiction, says that he is “extremely disappointed” and that the reason was not good enough.

“They’re a charitable organisation so they need to get money from other people, wherever they can. But to throw yourself in with the devil I don’t think is right.

“This industry has destroyed families and destroyed lives.

“To even think about lying in bed with these people is wrong and I think they should rethink it and stop taking their money.”

Following this, Carolyn Harris, the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm, told the BBC she had concerns about the tie-up.

“It best this is distasteful and at worst it’s appalling,” she said.

“When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to an industry with a reputation for being responsible for suicides through addiction to gambling – it troubles me.

“For me it legitimises this business. I’ve met so many people who’ve lost loved ones, livelihoods and homes through addiction to gambling.

“Everything Samaritans does is to try to solve the problems that all gambling companies have a role to play in creating.

“[Samaritans] should get back to basics and keep doing what’s it’s been respected for doing for years – it’s fantastic work.”

Yet, both organisations sought to further defend the measures and stated that they believed the Samaritans expertise would allow Paddy Power to better protect its customers.  

Paddy Power Betfair added it is “keen to learn from the fantastic work the Samaritans already do, in order to continually improve our responsible gambling tools and interactions”.