Bacta elects new National Council for better representation  

UK gaming and amusement trade body Bacta has completed its strategic reorganisation, announcing the members elected to its new National Council. 

The National Council, revamped as part of a ‘head-to-toe restructure’ of Bacta, will be led by amusement and gaming machine veteran John Bollom as National President, and Scottish representative Joseph Cullis as Vice-President. 

Representing gaming machine manufacturers and distributors, the Council welcomes Peter Davies (Inspired Leisure Division), Tony Boulton (MERKUR UK), and Elizabeth Speed (Novomatic UK) as elected members. 

The British amusement sector will be represented at National Council by Dean Harding (Harry Levy Amusements), Jonathan Lauder (UDC), and Jeremy Godden (Godden Gaming Organisation). 

Bacta will further retain the strategic guidance of former Presidents Nick Harding, Greg Wood, and James Miller as Council members.

The ‘new look’ trade association, together with its reorganised National Council, aims to represent the UK’s amusement and gaming machine stakeholders amid pending changes to UK gambling. 

Commenting on the developments, Bollom said: “I am absolutely delighted to confirm the make-up of our new National Council, a body which I believe has the experience, vision, and energy to drive the trade association forward and represent the industry at this critical stage following the publication of the White Paper. 

“When I was charged with the task of reviewing Bacta’s structure – a process that began in February 2022 – the benchmark I used was assessing Bacta’s ability to respond to future challenges and future opportunities. To be totally effective in its representation of the membership, it was clear that Bacta required a new streamlined, unhindered, and progressive structure aligned to a cabinet of talents.”