Betting and Gaming Council Confirm Safer Gambling Week 2026 Dates
by Roy Brindley,
6 April 2026
Organisers are aiming to demonstrate the regulated gambling sector’s ongoing commitment to customer protection during Safer Gambling Week 2026.
The tenth Safer Gambling Week will begin on November 16, 2026. ©Getty
Key Facts:
- Annual awareness campaign will take place from November 16 to 22 in 2026.
- The cross-industry Safer Gambling Week promotes safer gambling in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- 2025’s Safer Gambling Week’s activities generated more than 80 million social media impressions.
- High-profile supporters included Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross.
The Betting and Gaming Council, the British Amusement Catering Trade Association, and the Bingo Association have announced that their annual awareness campaign, Safer Gambling Week, will take place between November 16 and 22 in 2026.
A cross-industry initiative to promote safer gambling in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Safer Gambling Week unites the regulated betting and gaming sector to promote safer play and raise awareness of the tools and support available to customers.
The announcement follows a record-breaking Safer Gambling Week 2025, during which its activities and message generated more than 80 million impressions across X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, a 40% increase over 2024’s event.
Senior Cross-Party MP and Peer Support
Announcing the 2026 Safer Gambling Week dates, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which represents around 90% of all UK-licenced betting and gaming businesses, said last year’s initiative “attracted significant political support, with a record number of senior cross-party MPs and peers lending their backing.”
“High-profile supporters included Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross, Shadow DCMS Secretary Nigel Huddleston MP and Shadow Gambling Minister Louie French MP, underlining the broad consensus behind efforts to raise standards and promote safer play,” a message on the BGC’s website reads.
“This unprecedented level of engagement from Parliamentarians is expected to continue into 2026, with Safer Gambling Week providing an important platform to demonstrate the regulated sector’s ongoing commitment to customer protection,” the post continued.
Tools to Help Customers Stay in Control
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, added: “Safer Gambling Week has gone from strength to strength, with last year’s record-breaking campaign showing just how powerful a united, cross-sector effort can be. The strong backing from Parliamentarians across all parties reflects the importance of this campaign and the shared ambition to ensure customers are protected and informed.”
Now entering its tenth year, the record-breaking Safer Gambling Week has become a key moment to spark a national conversation about safer play among staff, customers, and their friends and families. It also highlights the wide range of tools available to help people stay in control. These include deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion.
According to the BGC, these safeguards and tools are only available within the regulated sector. Illegal operators offer none of these protective measures, underlining the importance of maintaining a strong, well-regulated market that protects customers and supports continued investment in player protection.
European Safer Gambling Week Also Riding High
The Safer Gambling Week initiative covers the UK and Ireland and runs in parallel to the separate but related European Safer Gambling Week. Organised by the European Gaming and Betting Association, its 2025 event achieved a record participation of 221 partners across 24 countries.
Last year, for the first time, its activities extended to football matches and retail outlets. Furthermore, seven regulatory authorities participated by either joining the European Safer Gambling Week’s social media campaign or speaking at events.
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