The chief executive officer of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), Michael Dugher, has explained that keeping gambling safe has been the top priority of the UK gambling industry. The statement was made by Mr Dugher at the start of the Safer Gambling Week.
The Safer Gambling Week is an annual campaign that has been organised in the UK since 2017. It has been supported by the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA), the Bingo Association, as well as by the Betting and Gaming Council. This year, the Safer Gambling Week is set to run from November 1st to November 7th.
The campaign starts after last week the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) issued a report saying that the country’s problem gambling rate declined y 0.3% in the year to September 2021 from 0.6% in the year preceding it. As Casino Guardian reported at the time, the rate of British residents who were considered at “moderate risk” of being affected by gambling-related harm also declined from 1.2% to 0.7% in the 12-month period.
Mr Dugher pledged to use the event to build on the 2 million who are currently using deposit limits – one of the safer gambling tools that are being offered to customers by the members of the Betting and Gaming Council.
Problem Gambling Rates in the UK Decline, Latest UKGC Report Shows
As the CEO of the BGC explained, now, the Safer Gambling Week is an established event held every year. He once again shared that the problem gambling rates in the country are kept low and are still falling, which is great news, but the regulated gambling sector in the UK remains determined and committed to keeping high standards to protect local gamblers against possible gambling-related harm.
Mr Dugher further noted that safer gambling is not just an issue that should be discussed once a year for the regulated industry but a major priority licensed gambling providers to stick to throughout the entire year.
The Safer Gambling Week in 2021 is set to involve a number of safer gambling messages in brick-and-mortar venues as well as online, with the regulated gambling sector trying to encourage its staff members, customers and the wider public to raise their awareness of the issue.
According to Chris Philp MP, who was named UK Gambling Minister in September, Safer Gambling Week is an important initiative for the local gambling sector, as the industry comes together and continues to promote the prevention of gambling-related harm. He further noted that the UK Government needs to find ways to guarantee better protection to people suffering from severe gambling addiction, which could be a real gamechanger for them.
Mr Philp also said that the ongoing Government’s review of the UK Gambling Act will make sure that the country’s legislation is fit for the digital age, with the laws aimed to strike the right balance between providing British adults with the freedom to choose how they gamble safely and ensuring the best protection against risks associated with that gambling.
- Author
Daniel Williams
