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Samaritans criticised over Paddy Power Betfair partnership
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31 August 2019
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ByDan Whitworth Money Box press reporter

The charity Samaritans has come in for criticism over its links with the betting business Paddy Power Betfair.

Staff at the group selected Samaritans as their Charity of the Year.

But critics - consisting of loved ones of people with gambling issues who took their own lives - state it is risking its reputation by dealing with the company.

Both organisations say Samaritans' insight and know-how will assist Paddy Power Betfair improve how it assists vulnerable consumers.

The partnership involves activities such as fundraising, business contribution and offering.

Samaritans states it will likewise help it continue its work "to attempt to lower the variety of deaths by suicide".

"Appalling"
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But John Myers, who lost his child Ryan five years back when he took his own life aged 27 after becoming addicted to betting, said that was not a sufficient factor.

"I'm very dissatisfied in the Samaritans.

"They're a charitable organisation so they need to get cash from other individuals, any place they can. But to toss yourself in with the devil I don't believe is right.

"this promotion code market has actually ruined families and ruined lives.

"To even consider lying in bed with these people is incorrect and I think they must rethink it and stop taking their cash."

Carolyn Harris, chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm, informed the BBC she had concerns about the tie-up.

"At best this is distasteful and at worst it's terrible," she stated.

"When you see them [Samaritans] aligning themselves to an industry with a track record for being accountable for suicides through addiction to gaming - it problems me.

"For me it legitimises this promotion code service. I've fulfilled many people who have actually lost liked ones, incomes and homes through dependency to betting.

"Everything Samaritans does is to attempt to fix the yohaig code problems that all betting companies have a role to play in producing.

" [Samaritans] ought to return to fundamentals and keep doing what's it's been respected for providing for years - its great work."

In statements both the partnership will not simply assist Samaritans' fundraising efforts, however its insight and competence will also assist Paddy Power Betfair care for susceptible customers and establish and reinforce its policies in this area.
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Paddy Power Betfair added it is "keen to gain from the great work the Samaritans already do, in order to continuously enhance our accountable betting tools and interactions".

You can hear more on BBC Radio 4's Money Box program on Saturday at 12pm or listen once again here.

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