GambleAware is one of the leading organizations tasked with protecting vulnerable players and keeping the gambling industry safe. Over the years, it has received substantial contributions from gambling operators, but the 2022-23 financial year marked a 17.5% drop compared to the previous year. On the bright side, Bet365 has stepped up to donate larger amounts and contributed more than £5 million, which is a substantial increase.
Making a Safer Place for Gamblers
Bet365 is one of the leading gambling operators, with a distinguished track record and a place where players can enjoy their favorite game securely. Whether they prefer sports, casino games, poker, or other forms of entertainment, the platform provides the security and stability they seek. An indirect contribution is made in the form of donations to GambleAware and in the first three quarters of this financial year, it passed a psychological threshold with more than £5 pounds in donations.
£2.4m, £1.7m, and £907,000 were the amounts spent by the company Hillside, operating as Bet365. The donation is still behind the biggest contributor in the nine-month period, as Ladbrokes Coral provided funds worth £7.0m to the charity. Other gambling operators have also donated tens of thousands of dollars, yet the amounts pale in comparison with the sums donated by these large gambling groups. They have also been some of the staunchest supporters of the charity over time.
GambleAware Relies on Voluntary Donations
Gambling operators who make a profit from this activity are supposed to donate at least 0.1% of the annual gross yield. Those who make no more than £250,000 have the same requirements, but this would amount to a minimum donation of £250. Obviously, the organization depends heavily on voluntary donations, which can bridge the gap and provide an invaluable safety net to players.
The fact that the total amount donated dropped by 17.5% compared to the previous year, which stood at £16 million, is concerning. On the bright side, the fact that some of the biggest names in the online gambling industry have stepped up is reassuring. Companies have until March 31, 2023, to make a donation to the charity, as this is the time when the 2022-23 financial year concludes. The funds gathered in this way are spent to advance the charity’s commissioning objectives in a transparent way.