A group of ex-England internationals took on the winners of GambleAware’s inaugural Bet Regret Cup, culminating a regional qualifying tournament that spanned 26 centres and 170 teams.
The move came as part of the safer gambling campaign aimed at moderating the behaviour of young male bettors, by encouraging them to think twice about betting when drunk, bored or chasing losses.
Launched to enable direct conversation with its target audience nationwide, a team including Sol Campbell, David James, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joleon Lescott, Paul Konchesky and Carlton Cole, took on the winning team, the Slough Scorpionz.
Marc Etches, CEO of GambleAware, said of the tournament: “The #BetRegret Cup has given us a unique opportunity to work alongside the football community in Britain, and to encourage sports bettors to reflect on their gambling behaviour.
“We know that football is their most popular sport to watch, play and bet on. The #BetRegret Cup is intended to raise the profile of safer gambling across the football community and encourage self-reflection.”
The campaign aims to support 2.4m young men aged 18-34 who gamble regularly, the age range typically found at five-a-side centres around the UK and of which it is said that 87 per cent regularly watch football.
At the start of the month GVC Holdings revealed that it’s to donate its football sponsorship assets across England and Scotland to GambleAware in support Bet Regret, which sees 42 clubs remove sponsorship assets relating to the gaming and betting group.
David Rose, deputy chief executive for The Football Supporters’ Association, who are supporters of the Bet Regret campaign, added: “Putting a bet on is a normal and enjoyable part of the match-day routine for many football fans, but it’s important that people know the difference between a considered bet and one that’s impulsive.
“This is why Bet Regret has resonated so strongly with supporters and the #BetRegret Cup has been such a key part of the campaign.”
