Against the Odds launched to raise awareness of gambling-related harm

By Healthy Stadia | 18 October 2022 | TAGS: Healthy Stadia, Gambling, Against the Odds, Bolton Wanderers FC

Grassroots sports clubs across Greater Manchester are being encouraged to sign-up to the Against the Odds campaign to raise awareness of gambling-related harms.

Against the Odds wants to engage sports clubs both big and small to highlight the positive role they can play in reducing the prevalence of gambling sponsorship and advertising in sport.

Bolton Wanderers FC and Bolton Wanderers in the Community have pledged their support to the campaign and there’s hope the campaign will spark a movement throughout the football pyramid.

In Greater Manchester, sport plays a huge role in bringing communities together but a rise in gambling sponsorship and advertising reinforces a perception that betting is a normal part of sport.

To protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults, Against the Odds hopes to hit all levels of the sporting pyramid in Greater Manchester to support the phasing out gambling sponsorship and advertising.

According to research, gambling logos can appear more than 700 times in a single football match; on shirts, training apparel, perimeter advertising, press backdrops and behind dugouts.

It is estimated that around 1 in 200 people in Greater Manchester (around 14,000 adults) are experiencing severe gambling harms.

That’s more people than can fit inside Boundary Park – the home of Oldham Athletic.

When the harms experienced by children, friends, family, and communities are considered, one in 15 Greater Manchester residents are experiencing the negative impacts of gambling.

Gambling-related harms are complex and individualised and can have a significant impact on finances, relationships, and health, as well as anxiety, depression, debt, and suicide.

Michael Viggars, Project Manager at Healthy Stadia and Campaign Lead for Against the Odds, said:

“We are Against the Odds and we need the support of clubs big and small right across Greater Manchester.

“With Bolton Wanderers leading the way in Greater Manchester and nationally, we believe we can start a movement to end gambling sponsorship in sport and prevent thousands of fans and their families from experiencing harm.

“The gambling industry often talks about ‘gambling responsibly’ but with every square inch of sports stadia being sold to advertise dozens of different sports betting brands it’s no wonder that we’re seeing more and more people suffering from gambling-related harms.”

Bolton Wanderers Chairman Sharon Brittan said:

“Gambling addiction can have a devastating effect on individuals and their families and communities, and that’s why Bolton Wanderers Football Club is pledging our formal support of the pioneering Against the Odds campaign by signing their charter.

“As a club with are proud of the role we play in our community and, along with Bolton Wanderers in the Community, we will continue to be a driving force in supporting the health and well-being of all the residents of our town.”

Grassroots clubs can find out more about how they can get involved and sign-up to Against the Odds at webinars on Thursday 27 October and Wednesday 2 November, both 6.30pm-7.30pm.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Enquiries: Michael Viggars, Project Manager, Healthy Stadia and Against the Odds Lead

Media Call: Tuesday 25 October
The Against the Odds team and Bolton Wanderers F.C. will circulate an additional media call ahead at the University of Bolton Stadium. There will be an opportunity for media to interview key stakeholders including club and community trust staff alongside the project lead for Against the Odds.

Healthy Stadia: Healthy Stadia is part of the North-West charity Health Equalities Group. Health Equalities Group is a health and wellbeing alliance that designs, develops, and evaluates evidence-based programmes and policies that seek to tackle public health priorities including but not limited to non-communicable diseases and health inequalities.

GMCA: Communities Addressing Gambling Harms - Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) awarded £300,000 to 13 community projects across the city-region to help those adversely affected by gambling.

Against the Odds: The Against the Odds project aims to catalyse a movement across the sporting pyramid in Greater Manchester in support of phasing out gambling sponsorship and advertising in sport and de-normalising at-risk betting amongst individuals and communities.