Check Your Bally's: How Bally Bet is Backing Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

Football fans are used to checking everything. Whether the ball fully crossed the line or whether the penalty was soft, scrutiny is part of the game. But that habit doesn't always carry over to their own health.

Around 2,400 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer every year in the UK. That's more than six new cases every day. A self-check takes around 30 seconds, and with early detection carrying a survival rate of over 95%, those 30 seconds can make all the difference.

This Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, Bally Bet has teamed up with Nottingham Forest and The OddBalls Foundation to do something about that.

About Check Your Bally's

The campaign uses the language and habits of football to deliver a message that goes well beyond the game.

On Sunday 19 April, Bally Bet will take over the City Ground matchday experience for Nottingham Forest vs. Burnley. Stadium LEDs, big screens and the matchday programme all carry the reminder that checking shouldn't stop at the final whistle.

Content featuring Nottingham Forest first team players will extend the message across digital and social channels, reaching fans who aren't in the ground on the day.

Henri Lansbury on why it matters

Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Henri Lansbury has spoken openly about his own experience with testicular cancer, and his involvement gives the campaign a personal account of why checking matters, something statistics alone do not.

"It's something a lot of men don't really think about or talk about, but it's so important. It only takes a few seconds to check yourself, and it could genuinely make a difference. If this gets more people doing that, then it's a really positive step."

That's the whole case, made simply. It takes seconds, it could save your life and most men still aren't doing it regularly enough.

From awareness to action: the Oddpod

Awareness is only useful if it leads somewhere. The OddBalls Foundation will have their 'Oddpod' on site at the City Ground on matchday, giving fans the chance to get checked by trained professionals and ask questions in a straightforward, no-pressure environment.

Kieran Kelly, Managing Director of The OddBalls Foundation, on what the campaign means:

"We're proud to be working alongside Bally Bet and Nottingham Forest on this campaign. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer affecting young men, yet awareness and regular self-checking are still far too low. Using the passion and dedication of the Nottingham Forest fanbase to deliver such a simple, life-saving message is incredibly powerful — campaigns like this have the potential to save lives. If this encourages even one person to check themselves and seek help early, we've done our job."

Every VAR check counts: Bally Bet donates for every check this weekend

Checking is now part of football. Managers check their tactics, officials check the monitor, fans check the replay. Across the Premier League weekend of 18-20 April, Bally Bet will be donating to The OddBalls Foundation every time a VAR check takes place, turning one of the most familiar moments in the modern game into something that matters off the pitch too.

There's a straightforward idea behind the mechanic: if checking is already second nature in football, it should be off the pitch as well.

How to check yourself

The OddBalls Foundation has clear, straightforward guidance on how to perform a self-check. It takes about 30 seconds, it's recommended once a month and it's one of the simplest things you can do for your health this April.

Visit https://theoddballsfoundation.com/ for everything you need to know.

If you’d like to read more about what we’ve been up to, head to the Bally Bet blog. There you’ll find sports betting guides as well as online casino game roundups and overviews.

All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.