BGC Confirms Safer Gambling Week 2026 Dates

We can confirm that Safer Gambling Week 2026 will run from 16 to 22 November. This follows another year of strong engagement across the sector. The initiative is led by the Betting and Gaming Council and promote safer gambling tools and responsible play for both online and land-based gambling.

Strong momentum from 2025 campaign

Last year’s campaign delivered broke records. More than 80 million impressions were recorded across platforms including X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. That was a 40% increase compared to the previous year.

Political engagement also stepped up. Support came from figures such as Fiona Twycross, Nigel Huddleston and Louie French. Their involvement shows the growing focus on safer gambling at a policy level.

Industry-wide collaboration

The campaign is backed by key trade bodies. These include Bacta and the Bingo Association. Together, they want to build awareness and encourage consistent messaging across the sector.

Now,  Safer Gambling Week is in its 10th year. It has developed into a coordinated effort across operators, suppliers and stakeholders. The focus remains on practical tools that help players stay in control.

Consumer protection focus

Operators are expected to roll out activity across both digital channels and physical venues. Messaging will centre on tools like:

• Deposit limits.
• Time-outs.
• Self-exclusion schemes.

These are typically only available within licensed environments. The campaign also reinforces the difference between regulated operators and unlicensed platforms. Such protections may not exist outside the regulatory framework.

BGC outlines continued commitment

Grainne Hurst, CEO of the BGC, said the campaign continues to grow in impact year-on-year. She pointed to the strong cross-sector collaboration and political backing as key drivers behind its success:

“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.” Grainne Hurst, CEO of the BGC

The initiative will again span both the UK and Ireland. It will also run alongside the wider European Safer Gambling Week. This aligning of messaging across multiple markets is positive too.

As the 2026 dates are now confirmed, we’ll be looking at how operators and stakeholders will build on last year’s momentum and further strengthen engagement around safer gambling practices.