Industry figureheads and wider health and education stakeholders addressed the issue of whether ‘the gambling industry is giving players enough control?’ – at the latest meeting of the Parliamentary All Party Betting and Gaming Group –APBGG – (7 May 2019). The subject matter was discussed by Sarah Hanratty, Chief Executive Officer at the Senet Group; Damon De Ionno, Managing Director …
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The British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Bacta) has welcomed the decision by the UK Treasury not to remove any coins or notes from circulation. Last March, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond called for the reassessment of UK Currency’s ‘lowest denominations’, focusing on whether 1p and 2p coins had become ‘obsolete’. Acting on behalf of British amusement interests, Bacta …
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bacta – the trade association for UK amusement and gaming machine industry stakeholders has moved to update its social responsibility charter and code of practice. Seeking to develop its strongest responsibility code, starting this month bacta will demand that all its 490 members abide by ‘thirteen pledges’ on principals relating to player protections, staff training, premises maintenance and age verification. Supporting …
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Amusement industry trading body bacta has celebrated the work of its Charitable Trust with a Parliamentary Reception, after it has raised over £3.5m since its establishment in 1991. The event commemorated the Trust’s fundraising capabilities, following the recent expansion to its scope of charities supported to include Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Teenage Cancer Trust, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and …
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Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) have returned to the news once again, after a first-tier tribunal found in the favour of bookmakers, which could potentially see them rake in a billion pounds in paid VAT from 2005 to 2013. The original decision by the tribunal deemed that Category B2 games should have been VAT exempt from 2005 to 2013, after …
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Bacta has detailed that its members are to convey industry outrage over a proposed delay in implementing the £2 stake on FOBTs (fixed odds betting terminals), at a Treasury meeting next week. The meeting, which is set to be held at The Treasury on Wednesday 25 July, will see a senior delegation of figures from the UK trade association, including …
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Chris Murphy, Editor of SBC Americas, takes a look at some of the political infighting happening in the UK around FOBTs and suggests that the industry should be working with each other rather than against. The fixed odds betting terminal. Crack cocaine of gambling or simply a misunderstood gambling prodigy? Whichever of those two you agree with, or perhaps it’s …
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The Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) has expressed its belief that a report which estimates the potential economic cost of cutting fixed odds betting terminal (FOBT) stakes to £2 was “flawed.” The report, which was conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) for the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA), came to the conclusion that if the …
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Bacta Chief Executive John White has reassured members that contrary to recent speculation, the review of FOBT stakes has not been shelved and is encouraging Chancellor Philip Hammond to take a ‘holistic view’ of the broad and powerful economic benefits contained within the association’s triennial submission. Commenting on last week’s FOBTs story which appeared in the Daily Mail, stating that …
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The European Gaming and Amusement Federation (EUROMAT) has confirmed the appointment of Jason Frost as its new President, serving a fixed two-year term. EUROMAT governance announced the leadership appointment at its annual general meeting, held in Berlin last week. An industry veteran, Frost takes over leadership of the industry body having previously served as President of the British Amusement Catering Trades …
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