Crystal Palace are breaking new ground after agreeing a link-up with gambling charity Gambling Aware.

Palace have become the first football team to agree such a partnership that will address concerns about gambling-related harm within football.

The football club and the charity have teamed up to produce advertisements and promotion materials to raise awareness of the risks of gambling. Messages, which will be visible to spectators on the ground and to viewers at home, will appear across the perimeter of the pitch and on screens throughout the stadium.

Aimed at both players and fans alike, the campaign will take place during the final three games of the season. The initiative is designed to raise awareness of the advice and support that is available at BeGambleAware.org, and to encourage conversations about safe and responsible gambling activity.

As one of the nine Premier League clubs that are currently sponsored by gambling companies, Crystal Palace is the first club to take part in an initiative like this. GambleAware hopes other clubs will be encouraged to do the same and recognise their responsibilities in helping to raise awareness of the risks of gambling.

Marc Etches, Chief Executive of GambleAware, said: “This is an important first step towards a deeper and broader action plan to address the ever-closer relationship between gambling and football.  As the first professional football club to make this commitment, Crystal Palace is setting a great example to other clubs, and not only those with gambling sponsors because all benefit from the income that flows from television deals funded by the ever-growing amount of gambling advertising around live sport.”

Steve Parish, Chairman of Crystal Palace FC said: “As a Premier League club, we recognise our responsibility of helping promote safe and responsible gambling.  I’m pleased  that Crystal Palace are the first club to form a partnership with GambleAware, and I hope we can play a part in raising awareness about their service, and help those individuals who need support.”

Guided by the National Responsible Gambling Strategy, GambleAware is an independent charity tasked to fund research, education and treatment services to help minimise gambling-related harm in Great Britain.

GambleAware is a commissioning and grant-making body, not a provider of services. The charity’s strategic aim is to broaden public understanding of gambling-related harm as a public health issue and to help those that do develop problems get the support and help that they need quickly and effectively. For more information, please go to: http://about.gambleaware.org/