BetBlocker launches support for Syrian Arabic speakers

Duncan Garvie, founder and Trustee of BetBlocker, said the rollout allows the team to “submit a more competitive tender to an EU regulator, whilst simultaneously expanding our support to a country/population that currently has very limited options for people experiencing gambling harm”. 

The charity highlighted that the years of conflict in Syria have resulted in significant displaced communities in neighbouring countries and across European nations. As seen in many cases, immigrant and minority communities are often at a higher risk of gambling harm, with religious, social, cultural and linguistic barriers suppressing engagement with support services. 

“I’m always really happy when BetBlocker can line up priorities for where our work for mature markets also facilitates us extending protections to populations that are underserved,” Garvie added. “Our project to deliver Ukrainian as part of the Improving Outcomes for Minority Communities fund via GambleAware in the UK was a great example of a project that met the needs of the UK funding system, while concurrently extending the support we could offer to an entirely new project.”

“BetBlocker’s uptake in Syria is climbing rapidly at the moment, and this new launch should ensure that far more people who need support can access it.” Recently, BetBlocker also announced its expansion into Slovakia in a joint project with the country’s national gambling helpline.