The chief executive officer of the Betting and Gaming Council (CEO) urged the new UK Prime Minister to get gambling reform right.
Mr Michel Dugher reminded that the nation is set to have a new Prime Minister and a new Government in a few days but people should not make haste and celebrate because no matter who wins the keys to 10 Downing Street a tsunami of trouble will be on the way. A constantly increasing cost of living, energy bills, and inflation are expected to soar to an enormous level, while a recession is just around the corner, along with the impact of the still ongoing military conflict in Europe.
With all of this waiting for the nation’s new Prime Minister to assume the role, the lack of reforms in the local gambling sector will not surprise anyone. Despite that, Mr Dugher noted that the BGC members are making efforts to drive up their standards even more. The head of the British legal gambling sector head body noted that the process is extremely important, so there is a lot more work to be done in the industry.
The head of the trading body representing the legal gambling sector in the UK agreed that further changes are required in the sector, in order for the industry to build on improvements and guarantee safer gambling. However, he does not believe that the changes will be effective until there is an overwhelming majority of Members of Parliament (MPs), who are against gambling.
Multiple Issues Associated with the Planned Gambling Reform Show Prejudice of UK MPs, Mr Dugher Claims
In Mr Dugher’s opinion, the recent review of the UK Government has actually revealed how many Members of Parliament have major concerns about the risks associated with gambling, although there could be changes in businesses, sports and jobs in the sector to prevent that.
It is exactly this kind of prejudice that makes the BGC’s boss think that the Government’s review of the gambling sector and the forthcoming white paper should not be considered by anyone who has the power to change the sector.
Mr Dugher reminded that a recent report funded by British tax-payers and supported by anti-gambling campaigners clearly outlined the most important points of an ongoing debate. The study, which involved more than 100 proposals, including a full ban on gambling advertising in the UK, establishing a state-owned gambling monopoly, a ban on spread betting and in-play betting, etc., has eventually seen most of the proposals rejected by Ministers, including a suspension on all sports sponsorship deals and the type of affordability checks that require punters present bank statements once they spend more than £100 on gambling.
The boss of the Betting and Gaming Council defended the industry, saying that the sector supports 119,000 jobs, generates £4.5 billion for the country’s Treasury on an annual basis and contributes £7.7 billion to the UK economy. He noted that the new Government and Prime Minister should definitely take all of this into consideration, especially considering the financial uncertainty of the British economy.
At the same time, Mr Dugher noted that the gambling addiction rates in the country have declined and currently remain among the lowest ones in Europe, at 0.2%, according to the UK Gambling Commission.
The BGC’s boss agrees that it is time for serious changes in the sector, and explained that the trade body representing the industry and its members both remain committed to delivering the necessary changes.
- Author
Daniel Williams
