Bet365 Drops Pundit From Series Over 'Positive Work' Tied to Gambling Addiction: 'F***ing Disgusting'
Footballer Steven Caulker is without a team and now he is without a gig in broadcasting.
Betting giants Bet365 has admitted to dropping the pundit on a show it sponsors for his "positive work" tied to gambling addiction.
Caulker, 31, once revealed in a Guardian interview in 2017 how he had struggled with gambling, alcohol and depression.
The Big Step, "a campaign to end gambling advertising and sponsorship in football, led by people harmed by gambling", was the first to reveal the move by Bet365.
John Leaver quipped on the Big Step Twitter feed: "Please gamble responsibly but please don’t talk about gambling responsibly."
Quite a few of the responses read more like this: "Absolutely fucking disgusting."
Let's talk about you blocking #StevenCaulker from landing a broadcasting job. Ironic you promote safe gambling, yet prevent an ex gambling addict from getting a job and helping further promote safe gambling.
— RKWH (@DC84118) November 14, 2023
The identity of the video platform Caulker was commissioned for is yet to emerge, The Guardian reports.
Bet365 issued a statement regarding the matter: “Mr Caulker applied to appear as a guest on a video series solely sponsored by Bet365 which is only published on an online video platform (not TV) by one of our sports publishing partners. During the guest approval process, we became aware of Mr Caulker’s own negative experiences with gambling which he has spoken about openly.
“We welcome the excellent work Mr Caulker has done to raise awareness of problem gambling – however, as a betting company, we felt it would be inappropriate for Mr Caulker to appear on a Bet365 sponsored series of this type.
“In explaining these circumstances, we regret that our position was misstated by our media partner to Mr Caulker.”
- Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
