Gambling with Lives
@GambleWithLives
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We are a community of families bereaved by gambling-related suicide that raises awareness of the devastating effects of gambling disorder & campaigns for change
Joined April 2018
The government must act now. #StopGamblingSuicides. @10DowningStreet @hmtreasury @DCMS @GamRegGB @38degrees
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@EmmaLewellBuck @AdmiralSlots If you talked with us about the families we support who have lost their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and partners to gambling-related suicide you might not be so keen to promote this.
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We’re proud to share that our co-founders, Liz and Charles Ritchie, have been awarded MBEs for their services to charity and bereaved families.
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Luke Ashton's inquest has concluded that gambling disorder killed Luke & the operator Betfair could & should have done much more to intervene. This is unprecedented. Huge respect to @annieashton2705 who has been amazingly strong & determined throughout.
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The @independent's "guide to the best UK slots" is a random list of 40+ online casinos offering incentives to lure you in. As a charity supporting families bereaved by gambling suicide, we're asking: . Is this responsible journalism? . @Geordie_Greig @domjoly @The_Real_JSP ?
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Kay Wadsworth, who lost her daughter Kimberly to gambling, has written a powerful letter to the @BarclaysWSL ahead of the @lionesses World Cup match tomorrow. @KayWadsworth6 is calling on the women's game to think of their young fans and reject all gambling partnerships. Please
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Every day the Gambling Act review white paper is delayed is another family shattered. Here @annieashton2705 sets out what needs to happen. #StopGamblingSuicides . @10DowningStreet @hmtreasury @DCMS @GamRegGB @38degrees @CPhilpOfficial.
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Amazingly powerful from @annieashton2705 talking to @PaulMerse on @BBCOne last night. The gambling industry needs to hang its head in shame.
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At least one person dies every single day in the UK because of gambling – “that’s not something we wanted on our conscience,” says @NicolaPalios . Wonderful to see @TranmereRovers put their fans & community first .
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Fines are no deterrent for huge gambling companies. They must lose their licences for serious failures, especially when linked to suicides. Share if you agree!.
We're supporting three families who've lost loved ones to suicide linked to social responsibility and other failures by the gambling operator Gamesys, which has today been fined £6 million by the Gambling Commission. Statement below.
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16-year-old Luke Littler's rise means darts will have a massive new following among children and young people. The number of gambling ads these young fans are forced to absorb is shocking.
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Today, more than four years after Jack Ritchie died, Liz and Charles Ritchie will finally learn the coroner's conclusions at the outcome of the inquest into his death.
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Today we're launching a petition calling on all UK media outlets to follow the @guardian's lead & stop advertising gambling. It's time to do the right thing and stop profiting from people's misery. Please sign & share .
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This is a welcome first step, but the nation expects the government to do much more than this, and soon. Read James Grimes’s opinion in today's @Guardian ⬇️.
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Today, the largest-ever group of people bereaved by gambling-related suicides – 50 family members from 18 families from across the UK – are at Westminster, demanding every gambling-related suicide is properly investigated. Please RT to show your support.
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We were at @10DowningStreet earlier today, along with @JamesGrimesGwL and @Peter_Shilton, as they handed in their petition, calling for an end to gambling advertising and sponsorship in football
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Gambling operators have access to all the data they need to prevent harm. Instead, they use it to exploit their customers for maximum profit, or, as @mattzarb puts it here:. “Your gambling addiction is their business model.”.
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A gambling ad bigger than a house at Dublin airport. This madness must end.
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Good news: . The FA has replied to Kay’s letter confirming the TOP TWO women's divisions will end front-of-shirt gambling sponsorship – that's a step further than the men's game 👏
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Great to see Mick Lynch supporting gambling reform!
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At least one person dies every day in the UK because of gambling. Football's response? Extend the league's partnership with a gambling company by 5 years.
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New official figures released at 9.30 today are expected to show the number of people harmed by gambling has been massively underestimated for years. This is going to be a huge wake-up call to government & policymakers.
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Today Liz and Charles Ritchie collect their MBEs for their charity work with and for families bereaved by gambling-related suicide. "These awards mean the many who died, like our son Jack, have been seen.".
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All @GambleWithLives families will tell you that every single day is tough. But anniversaries are stark reminders. Yesterday it was our turn. Keep strong everyone - we will get change. Always in our thoughts and hearts. Jack Ritchie (28/12/92 - 22/11/17)
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Fantastic to see @AFCWimbledon listen to its fans and back @the_bigstep campaign today. If every club did the same, gambling sponsorship would be a thing of the past . #StopGamblingSuicides
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“We will never again have a betting brand on the front of our shirt”.– @NorwichCityFC . 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
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Jack Ritchie inquest: Coroner finds “woeful” government failings caused Jack’s death. Read Charles and Liz Ritchie's full statement below.
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“When you realise most of the gambling industry’s profits come from people who are addicted, you realise it’s not in their interests to reduce addiction,” @mattzarb tells a shocked @PaulMerse on BBC One now.
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"How can someone make that many bets in one day & it not be picked up?" . @annieashton2705 was brilliant on @BBCBreakfast earlier holding gambling operator Betfair to account after a coroner concluded they could have done much much more to help her husband Luke.
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We’re at this year’s Labour conference in Liverpool!. We’re calling on Labour to take seriously the health crisis caused by the gambling industry. If you’re here, come and say hi – we’re at stand 27. #Lab23 #StopGamblingSuicides
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We got this message from an ex-industry employee on today's BBC story on AI (they agreed we could share it)o😮
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This is not only tone-deaf but also dangerous. At least one person dies every day in the UK because of gambling. Fans, including children, should be able to watch/ go to games without being bombarded by gambling ads. #StopGamblingSuicides.
Aston Villa have agreed a multi-year partnership with BK8, which sees the brand join as the new Principal and Front of Shirt Partner.
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Today it has been officially recognized that gambling can kill in the new National Suicide Prevention Strategy. This is a big step forward, and something bereaved families have said for years. #StopGamblingSuicides.
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A major inquest on Wednesday will look at the role gambling played in Luke Ashton’s death and if Betfair could have done more to prevent it. It’s thought to be the first time a gambling company is an interested person at an inquest.
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We banned cigarette adverts a long time ago. It’s time we did the same with gambling adverts.
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Today was an important day for families bereaved by gambling-related suicide. Every death must be a lesson learned.
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In case you missed this brilliant video from @Cassetteboy 👏👏. #StopGamblingSuicides.@scullyp @michelledonelan @GaryLineker @PoulterWill @BeardedGenius @eddieizzard @rustyrockets @stormzy @campbellclaret @robdelaney .
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“A coroner has ruled that the support and advice available to a gambling addict who killed himself were woefully inadequate”. Please watch & share this @BBCLookNorth news report on Jack’s inquest
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With more than 55,000 children addicted to gambling in the UK, the ASA has rightly identified gambling advertising as harmful. But to have a real impact, the government must stop the normalisation of high-risk gambling by ending all gambling advertising.
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“Even after he wasn’t here they were sending free bets to him”. Full of admiration for Judith Bruney, who lost her son Chris to gambling suicide, for speaking out to @PaulBrandITV on @ITVtonight about how predatory gambling companies operate. #StopGamblingSuicides
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A reminder: the gambling industry is not a normal industry selling normal products. Addiction is at the very core of their business model.
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“There was a gambling-related death yesterday, one today and will be one tomorrow. The government has a duty to prevent these deaths”. Please read & share Liz Ritchie’s powerful @guardian op ed ⬇️.
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Charles & Liz Ritchie on @SkyNews telling @KayBurley every gambling suicide must be investigated & lessons learned. Since Gambling with Lives began in 2018, over 1,500 people will have taken their lives due to gambling. How many more families must suffer before there's change?
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Today, six mums bereaved by gambling-related suicide delivered a letter to @RishiSunak urging him to end the gambling industry's control of research, education, & treatment.@michelledonelan @scullyp .#StopGamblingSuicides. Read more:
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“William Hill have behaved abhorrently but I’m not surprised because I know the industry”. GwL Strategy Director @WillProchaska reacts to William Hill’s record fine on @GMB a few moments ago . #StopGamblingSuicides.
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“It’s a model which operates on addiction. It’s a model where they’re extracting as much money as quickly as possible, meanwhile grooming the next generation." @Charles_GwL
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“Never, ever, were we, or our children, warned or educated about the risks of gambling, and how easy it is to become addicted". This week, 6 mums who lost their children to gambling suicide handed a letter in at @10DowningStreet. #StopGamblingSuicides .
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"Everywhere you look, there are adverts, pulling him back in". John Myers lost his son Ryan to gambling suicide. He spoke out the day new stats revealed gambling harm has been hugely underestimated for years. The government must stop the deaths, starting with urgent action on ads
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“It’s a recognition of the suffering of the families”. Liz and Charles Ritchie react to receiving MBEs earlier on @BBCBreakfast. Please watch and share. #StopGamblingSuicides
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"It's inescapable". The evidence is clear – gambling advertising draws young people into addiction, resulting in hundreds of deaths each year. If the government don't take action on advertising, they will bear responsibility for the deaths. @DCMS @hmtreasury @10DowningStreet
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Thanks to @the_bigstep and everyone else who has sent messages. Today is not going to be easy, so it really helps to know that we are in people's thoughts. Today is for Jack and is the next step to getting the changes that are needed to stop future gambling tragedies.
Jack Ritchie took his life in Nov 2017 - gambling was the root and trigger of his death. Today sees the 2nd Pre-Inquest Review to determine the scope of the final inquest. Thanks to the 100s who have sent messages of support for his family. Justice for Jack and change for all.
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No fine, no matter how big, will stop gambling operators from exploiting their customers & driving hundreds every year to suicide. Licences must be revoked & individuals held accountable, including facing prison. #StopGamblingSuicides.
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"The reason they spend so much money on gambling sponsorship & advertising is because it works.". @JamesGrimesGwL on @BBCBreakfast this morning . #StopGamblingSuicides
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Today we launch our first-ever fundraising appeal. More and more families bereaved by gambling-related suicide are contacting us for specialist support and we must step up. Please donate, and please share. Thank you!.
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"Gambling companies target young people with free bets and this sort of thing, they entice them in. And we know that that can lead to addiction". Thank you @GaryLineker for calling out gambling companies.
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Not perfect by any means, but a welcome move & significant acceptance of the harm caused by gambling advertising & sponsorship. #StopGamblingSuicides.
Premier League clubs have today collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of clubs’ matchday shirts, becoming the first sports league in the UK to take such a measure voluntarily in order to reduce gambling advertising. ➡️
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Thank you @Keir_Starmer for taking time to speak with bereaved families today. All our conversations at #Lab22 have shown a real understanding of the urgent need for gambling reform.
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Families bereaved by gambling-related suicide are at the Labour Party conference this week calling for gambling reform! #Lab22 .
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The results of @MartinSLewis's poll are in. Over 80% of respondents want gambling ads banned ❌ . #StopGamblingSuicides.@scullyp @michelledonelan @RishiSunak @Jeremy_Hunt @10DowningStreet @hmtreasury
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"They've got a business model which is based upon harming people. football fans are sick of it". Our @WillProchaska on @talkSPORT with @JimWhite & @Sjopinion10 discussing football's harmful relationship with gambling. #StopGamblingSuicides
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If the whitepaper doesn’t include meaningful reforms on gambling advertising, could lobbying like this be why?. #StopGamblingSuicides.
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Excellent input from everyone at the @CommonsCMS committee today. Here's @WillProchaska on how the framing of the debate is crucial. "Individual responsibility was used by the tobacco & fossil fuel industries to great effect & now the gambling industry is running with it"
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“What we have got, as Liz says, are highly addictive products which are hidden behind a mask of ‘fun’.”. Please watch & share this clip of @Charles_GwL explaining why we urgently need clear public health warnings on certain gambling products on today’s @BBCBreakfast
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👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
Luton Town CEO Gary Sweet has said rejecting gambling sponsorship has cost £2m - £3m per season but has no regrets. Promoting gambling costs society so much more than that - Thank you Gary and @LutonTown
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A date for your dairies:. Monday 11th October, 9pm – make sure you watch @PaulMerse’s new documentary about gambling addiction on @BBCOne, featuring GwL families including @annieashton2705, @MartinJ25530514 and @Charles_GwL
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"Access to the next market of addicts". @OfficialFPL can be played by children as young as 13, with no parental permission & the gambling industry knows that. GwL's @tom_fleming1988 on @BBCNews this morning
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More than 500 gambling suicides in England alone since the Gambling Act review began. Every one is a family shattered
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'Safer gambling' must start with a safer gambling industry and safer products, not meaningless and patronising slogans such as 'Take Time to Think'. #SGWeek21
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End all gambling advertising ❌.
Makes no sense that the government admits slots are addictive while allowing them to be promoted in football like this.
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Someone dies from gambling suicide every day in England. To #StopGamblingSuicides bereaved families demand:. ❌ An end to gambling advertising . 💷 Evidence-based affordability checks. 🏥 A statutory levy for independent treatment, education & research.
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“It’s not a responsible industry – 90% of the industry’s profits come from 5% of their customers”. @WillProchaska speaking to @alexisconran on @channel5_tv just now
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We’re pleased to sponsor the @FairGameUK parliamentary event . Great to hear @markpalios1 challenge the falsehood that football needs gambling money to survive
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On Monday @annieashton2705, who lost her husband Luke to gambling suicide, handed a petition in at @10DowningStreet. Signed by nearly 90,000 people, the petition is calling on the government to publish the white paper now & #StopGamblingSuicides .
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Report after report comes to the same conclusion: gambling is harming, not benefitting, the UK economy.
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"Gambling addiction killed them all". Hugely powerful from @charles_gwl at @commonsCMS earlier. Here he talks about gambling as the root and trigger of suicide.
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Today’s white paper is just a first step, much more must be done to #StopGamblingSuicides. And we’ll keep fighting until that happens. Link to our full statement below .
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So do we 👏🏻.
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We’ll welcome any positives in today’s white paper, but it seems much will be pushed to consultation, meaning more delay. We’ve waited years, more than 1,000 people have died while the industry has made billions in profit from harm. We need action now to stop the deaths.
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“You wouldn't give an alcoholic 100 free shots of vodka if they stopped drinking five years ago. So why do we allow this to happen?”. Powerful contribution from our @JamesGrimesGwL in this in-depth @BBCNews piece . @lucyfrazermp .#StopGamblingSuicides.
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