Author: Daniel Williams

The Deputy Leader on the Labour Party and shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson dropped a bomb on Twitter and revealed that Jeremy Wright had a meeting with two Tory Members of Parliament who have been lobbying on behalf of the UK gambling industry about three weeks before the Government’s decision for the FOBT stake reduction delay was officially revealed. According to information published on November 12th on Mr. Watson’s personal Twitter account, Mr. Wright who currently serves as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport met with two…

The professional football player Daniel Sturridge has been accused of misconduct by the Football Association (FA) after facing allegations of breaches of the governing body of English football. Reportedly, the charge is related to the loan move of Sturridge from Liverpool to West Bromwich Albion earlier in 2018, with “the period of January 2018” being specifically mentioned in the statement of the FA. The case against Sturridge is expected to be built on whether internal information was knowingly passed on at a time when Southampton, Newcastle United and West Bromwich…

An information that the UK Government’s decision to delay the reduction of the maximum betting stakes allowed at fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) until October 2019 was based on a “discredited” secret report issued by local gambling operator has emerged. As Casino Guardian reported, last week Chancellor Philip Hammond revealed that the implementation of the gambling industry crackdown was put off in order for the Treasury to compensate for the revenue expected to be lost as a result of the cuts. The delay fuelled a massive outrage among anti-gambling campaigners and…

Neil McArthur, head of the major gambling regulator in the UK has warned gambling operators’ executives that their companies advertising campaigns are being dangerous to young people who could become problem gamblers. The Conference gathered about 170 executives representing over 100 bookmakers, to which Mr. McArthur explained that competent regulators and authorities have been facing what he called a “significant challenge” to deal with the negative consequences which occurred as a result of gambling addiction among young people. He further urged them to be more responsible to customers’ safety and…

GamCare Isle of Man has helped local problem gamblers with offering approximately 3,000 appointments since 2011. The deputy director of the leading provider of free professional advice and counselling for treatment and prevention of problem gambling, Lyndsey Smart, shared that about 90% of the people who reach GamCare are self-referrals who are looking for some help in order to deal with a gambling addiction they are facing. According to Ms. Smart, gambling addiction was often not so obvious, so families of compulsive gamblers were usually not aware of the problem…

UK lawmakers who are concerned about the possible social harm caused by controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) have found a new way to take action against the recently unveiled plans of the Government to put off the expected industry crackdown until October 2019. At the time he presented the next year’s budget, Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, revealed that the expected change in the maximum stake allowed on gambling machines is to be implemented six months later than expected. The new rules were initially expected to be brought into…

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, has confessed that the put off the implementation of the fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) crackdown after lobbying from the industry. Chancellor Hammond explained that he initially intended to roll out the changes in the gaming duty in April 2019 in order to compensate for the revenue expected to be lost as a result of the reduction of the FOBT maximum stake from £100 to £2. However, gambling operators claimed that the changes could have a devastating impact on their businesses, as about 21,000 jobs…

Dr. Alan Smith, the Bishop of St Albans, started a fierce attack on the Government’s decision to put back the introduction of the new maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). He commented on the delay in an online article for the Observer, saying that the new betting limit on the machine should be rolled out as soon as possible in order for the Government to make sure that people, who were potentially in danger of becoming problem gamblers or were already suffering from gambling addiction, were protected. The Bishop…

Tracey Crouch, Minister of Sports and Civil Society, has resigned to object the UK Government’s unwillingness to roll out the crackdown on infamous fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) quicker. Ms. Crouch has been one of the most active politicians who joined the campaign against the addictive machines, launching a review according to which FOBT stakes should have been reduced from £100 to £2. Her resignation comes only a few days after the Chancellor revealed next year’s budget and it became clear that the long-expected changes would not be put into action…

The Sports and Civil Society Minister Tracey Crouch is considering a possible departure from her current role following the UK Government’s announcement that the planned reduction of fixed-odds betting terminals’ maximum stake will be delayed until October 2019, The Telegraph has revealed. According to media reports, Ms. Crouch has not been satisfied with the delayed reduction in FOBT stakes to £2 which the Treasury revealed a few days ago. The Telegraph contacted her on Wednesday evening while she is on a visit to the US, and Minister Crouch did not…