Reading Time: 2 minutes
The BGC Executive Team presented its evidence and comments on Tuesday to the DCMS Select Committee inquiry into gambling reforms.
Wes Himes and Michael Dugher of BGC, the CEO and Standards and Innovation Executive respectively, discussed the upcoming changes prior to the publication of the Gambling Review White Paper’s first consultations.
Mr Dugher began his speech by asking the MPs to take into consideration the 22,5 million people who regularly gamble. Dugher said, “I would like to start by talking about the 22.5 million people who gamble regularly. Their voices have been lost at times in this white paper process.” “And this is the 22.5 millions people who bet regularly.” These are people who also work hard, pay taxes, take care of their families, and choose to bet with their money.
The White Paper initiatives show the BGC’s commitment to improve the gambling industry as a entire, protect its most vulnerable members and maintain the 110,000 jobs which are dependent on regulated gaming.
These measures included enhanced checks on online casino spending, an industry Ombudsman, and a mandatory levy for research, education, and treatment. They also included stake limits for online slot machines and modernisation proposals.
British Gambler reports that the BGC is in support of the White Paper initiatives to improve industry, protect the most vulnerable players and keep their jobs, as well as create a more modern gambling environment for the United Kingdom.
Michael Dugher, the CEO of Dugher International, has asked lawmakers to make small adjustments in order to protect the economic and labor contribution made by a heavily-taxed industry.
M. Dugher informed the legislators that, while BGC members were delighted to help struggling main streets in 2019, almost 10,000 jobs had been lost as a result of 2,000 bookies closing since 2019.
Betting shops support 42,000 jobs and contribute PS1bn in tax a year to the Treasury. They also pay PS60m per annum in business rates to councils. The regulated gaming and betting industry generates PS4.2bn tax, supports 110,000 jobs and contributes PS7.1bn.
The CEO then addressed the problem of the 0,3% of problem gamblers who had been reported. BGC set out to deal with the impending issue. He said that problem gambling had decreased by half in the last year.
