Microgaming has broadened its charitable scope to support even more Responsible Gambling charities in 2021.
As Microgaming marks Safer Gambling Week 2021 alongside other industry players, the online gaming company reflects on its projects with charities on a mission to treat, minimise and prevent gambling-related harm.
Through its Microgaming PlayItForward corporate social responsibility programme, the company has widened its reach to the likes of Betknowmore UK, a leading provider of nationwide gambling support and training services. Betknowmore UK, which also conducts research, received a donation to cover the cost of a year-long trial for weekly peer-led group therapy specifically for women, building on its existing peer support service.
Following a donation last year, Microgaming once again assisted the Gordon Moody Association, which delivers a variety of treatment and therapy services for individuals with gambling issues, as well as offering support to the families impacted by their gambling. The latest contribution was earmarked for providing a comfort fund for the loved ones of those under the charity’s watch, as well as to assist with the purchase of furniture for its women’s outreach project.
Having previously assisted Isle of Man-based Motiv8 IOM, which provides addiction treatment and educational services to the Manx community, Microgaming has this year sponsored its gaming and gambling project set up specifically for young people.
Aside from helping organisations to provide specialist support schemes and purchase tangible items, Microgaming backed various digital projects, such as covering the promotional costs for a month-long social campaign for GamCare’s National Helpline. Meanwhile, mental health charity the Beacon Counselling Trust, which runs education programmes and provides free counselling to people with gambling-related issues, and the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM), received funding towards the creation of much-needed educational videos.
Now in its seventh year, Microgaming PlayItForward continues to invest in a wide range of local and international community projects, under the three pillars of people, place and planet.
“The collaboration between Microgaming PlayItForward and Betknowmore UK has enabled the development and delivery of new research and support activities that address the theme of women and gambling harms. It is an under-resourced area and, quite rightly, now the recipient of increased investment,” Frankie Graham, Founder and CEO at Betknowmore UK, said.
“We’re proudly standing in solidarity with all areas of our industry to support the Safer Gambling Week initiative, with a calendar of events to promote the Responsible Gambling message across our business. Of course, it’s a conversation our industry should be having all year around, and one which we are committed to being a part of. I’m proud we have been able to support the invaluable work of a range of gambling-related research, education and treatment charities throughout 2021,” John Coleman, CEO at Microgaming, said.
