SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Bacta, a retail gaming trade association, has begun discussions with the new 335 MPs placed in power following the General Election.
The organisation is working to map out constituency MPs for its member venues via a ‘deep-dive into the UK’s political terrain’. By doing so, Bacta hopes to strengthen the amusements industry’s relations with MPs and relevant parliamentary Committees.
The organisation’s efforts are currently targeted at mapping out member venues against their constituency MPs, which “deep-dive into the UK’s political terrain” as Bacta described it will also help strengthen the relations with the MPs selected to the relevant Committees.
One of these key political figures is Polly Billington, the MP for East Thanet, a seaside area and popular tourist destination in the Southeast of England.
Talks with Billington were kicked off by Bacta back in mid-June, when Jeremy Godden – Managing Director of the Godden Gaming Organisation and member of the Bacta National Council – met with her to discuss how to ‘synchronise’ future actions in the constituency.
Godden also took time to express his gratitude towards Bacta’s Director, George McGregor, and how he has “never been better” with his decisions for the association.
McGregor himself commented on Bacta’s recent political mobilisation, saying: “This is the first occasion, certainly in the two decades that I have worked with Bacta, that we have systematically mapped MPs with Members. We have used the General Election outcome to create a Geo Political Footprint for the industry.
“It will be the Central Nervous System guiding our political engagement and is a much more efficient way of putting Bacta members in front of their constituency MPs in order to present the case for the industry, in particular the importance of getting the reforms recommended in the White Paper over the line.
“In my career working in Public Affairs I have always preferred working with Governments which command a significant majority because it provides direction and certainty as opposed to the paralysis and inaction associated with small majorities.
“Our position is one of partnership and collaboration. We believe that the industry is ideally placed to support the Government’s economic growth objectives both on the high street and at the coast as part of a broader tourism strategy.”
(maybe put something in here about the new cabinet, who has been put in charge of CMS and who the relevant Gambling Minister is)
Regarding the new Labour cabinet, McGregor commented: “We are preparing for a relentless 12-months with political engagement at the very top of Bacta’s agenda.
“Lisa Nandy is a positive appointment as Secretary of State and if Steph Peacock takes responsibility for gambling as looks likely, we will be working with someone who served as shadow gambling minister while Labour was in opposition, who knows the brief, who has confirmed the White Paper has broad cross-party support and most importantly – who can hit the ground running.”
