Employers in London and across the UK are being urged to recognise the signs of gambling harms in the workplace as the World Cup is set to kick off this summer.
Charities Betknowmore UK and Ripple Suicide Prevention have warned that the football tournament offers the perfect opportunity for gambling harms to hide in plain sight at work and that employers in the region should get to grips with early warning signs and offer additional support to their staff who might be struggling as a result of their own, or someone else’s gambling.
With early signs being as subtle as longer lunches, irritability and lower quality of work, managers and colleagues across places of work throughout the UK are also being urged to be vigilant for more extreme behaviour. These could include secretive actions like shutting down computer screens or quickly turning off mobile phones when somebody approaches, asking for wages to be paid in advance and seeking to borrow money off other colleagues. Both organisations warn that these could all be signs of gambling harms emerging at work and require delicate support if spotted.
In partnership with Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity, an organisation which utilises innovative technology to intercept harmful online searches in relation to self-harm, suicide, gambling harms, financial struggles and more, Betknowmore UK is seeking to strengthen the national and regional response to the two interlinked public health issues.
Founded in 2021 by Alice Hendy MBE following the death of her brother Josh to suicide, the Ripple tool was created to prevent others from reaching crisis point alone. Since then, it has grown rapidly from a single browser extension into a comprehensive digital safety ecosystem, with Ripple for Business distributing advanced protection packages to fellow businesses in sporting, aviation, financial, construction and many more industries. Through its charitable efforts and business endeavours, Ripple technology is now deployed across more than 700 organisations.
The relationship between gambling addiction and suicide is sadly too common, with one particular study revealing that suicide was one of the leading causes of death among patients with gambling disorder. As a result, both charities are seeking to raise awareness of issues related to gambling in the workplace and develop digital and integrated training tools and technologies that reflect the realities of modern risk factors particularly around young men.
Alice Hendy MBE, Founder and CEO of Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity and Ripple for Business said:
“Many people will already be tackling the impacts of a gambling addiction, and the World Cup will place even greater social pressure on those currently struggling. Ripple technology exists because no one should reach the point of crisis alone and this partnership with Betknowmore UK means we can reach people earlier at the moment they need support most.
By knowing the early warning signs and having open and honest conversations in the workplace, we hope that even more people will get the support they need, preventing them from reaching the point of crisis.”
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Clarke Carlisle, Business Development Executive of Betknowmore UK said:
“The connection between gambling harm and suicidality isn’t an academic one, it’s real, and I have lived it. My experience is that the topic of gambling is rarely explored, let alone addressed, before, during or after mental health crises. We must broaden our understanding of gambling harms beyond the financial, into the emotional and behavioural. This is where the full impact can be seen, not only on the person who gambles, but also the affected others around them. There are ways to do this, and the partnership between Betknowmore UK and Ripple will support people to understand how.”
Committed to early intervention, safeguarding vulnerable individuals, and equipping workplaces, education settings, and communities to recognise and respond to risk, the two organisations will co-host a panel discussion on 2nd June 2026 at 11:00am bringing together lived experience and frontline expertise to share insights relevant across industries.