UK betting seeks to revamp its public image and wider perception as UK news sources report a potential merger between trade associations Remote Gambling Association (RGA) and the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB). A job post on executive search site Ellwood Atfield reports on the formation of ‘NEWCO’, “the working title for a new industry body representing the gambling sector, …
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Steeped in history and tradition, but it could now be the case that Manchester’s Belle Vue dog track could be at risk, after it was revealed by the Manchester Evening News that there are potential plans to build 243 homes on the site. Having first been built in 1926, the infrastructure is synonymous with the Belle Vue area and is …
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A much-trailed report into fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) from the right-leaning think tank ResPublica has been slammed for “parroting” the line taken by the report’s paid sponsors the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG). The report published this week entitled ‘Wheel of Misfortune: the case for lowering the stakes on FOBTs’ called for the reduction of the maximum stake applicable for …
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Placing social responsibility at the forefront of the industry, the first ever ‘Responsible Gambling Week’ (RG Week – 12-18 October) has been met with great enthusiasm by sector stakeholders. Driven by the Industry Group for Responsible Gambling (IGRG), every vertical of the UK gambling industry (arcades, bingo clubs, bookmakers, casinos and digital) will take initiative in driving the message of …
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As the long awaited triennial review of gaming machines stakes and prizes looms, it’s seemingly becoming increasingly likely that the result will be a crippling clampdown on the maximum stakes on fixed-odds-betting-terminals (FOBTs). Since the introduction of the Gambling Act in 2005, the political maelstrom that has engulfed FOBTs has inevitably intensified the levels of tension, and decreased the levels …
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Talking to Paddy O’Connell on BBC Radio Four last Sunday (3 September), The Association of British Bookmakers CEO Malcolm George said that a ‘pan industry solution’ is required if Britain wants to solve problem gambling. George details that the ‘personal interaction’ and ‘face-to-face interaction’ that is utilised in betting shops from shop staff who are able to build a stronger connection …
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A petition signed by more than 325,000 betting shop staff and customers from across the country will be presented to 10 Downing Street at 11am this morning as the beleaguered betting industry fights back against its portrayal in the media. The petition, collected as part of the recent ‘Back Your Local Bookie’ campaign, calls on the Government to support an industry …
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Tracey Crouch the UK Minister for Culture, Media & Sports has expressed her disappointment at industry body the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) failure to attend last week’s ‘Commons All Party Group on Fixed-odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs)’. The Commons meeting was set-up to discuss current UK regulatory provisions for FOBTs and potential plans to further restrict TV advertising for …
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Betting shops in Chinatown are supporting an initiative by GamCare to offer multi-lingual counselling and treatment programmes for anyone encountering difficulty with their gambling. The service, which is provided by GamCare and ‘The Chinese National Healthy Living Centre’ (CNHLC), means confidential counselling services are provided by a team of qualified and experienced counsellors who speak the languages represented in the …
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Horseracing and the government has been warned that the current level of Horseracing Levy being paid by betting shops is unsustainable and will need to be lowered if the sport is going to thrive in betting shops. Speaking at the Association of British Bookmakers AGM in London yesterday, Paul Darling QC underlined the fact that betting shop operators are paying …
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