Carolyn Harris MP has called for the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) to expand on its suspension of TV and radio gaming advertising during the COVID-19 lockdown ‘to truly protect vulnerable people at this time’. The Chair of the Gambling Related Harm APPG released a letter sent to Brigid Simmonds OBE, Chair of the BGC, which welcomed the recent decision …
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With this week’s announcement by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) that it has agreed to voluntarily remove all gaming product advertising on TV and radio during the COVID-19 lockdown, the subject of safer gambling is hot on the thoughts of people in the industry. Speaking at the SBC Digital Summit, Andy Danson, partner at Bird and Bird, and a panel …
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Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), has replied to UK Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston stating that UK gambling is committed to maintaining the highest operating standards. On Tuesday, Huddleston had penned a letter on behalf of DCMS to the leadership of the UK’s top five betting operators urging ‘further proactive steps’ to ensure gambling consumer …
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The government has urged UK gambling operators to ramp up its protection measures during the COVID-19 lockdown in a bid to mitigate what it has described as a “heightened risk of problem gambling”. In a letter to five chief executives of the largest gambling companies, the sports minister Nigel Huddleston (DCMS) has emphasised that “messages warning of risks and signposting …
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The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC)has detailed its full support of the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) ‘collaborative measures’ to reduce gambling harms by improving industry practices. Yesterday afternoon, UKGC Chief Executive Neil McArthur unveiled the Commission’s action plan outlining industry-wide measures and directives and VIP programmes, advertising protections and safer gambling product designs. Co-operating with industry leadership, the UKGC developed …
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Further to publishing its ‘2020/21 Business Plan’, the UK Gambling Commission has today outlined a set of new collaborative measures and directives to strengthen its industry code and further reduce problem gambling harms. This afternoon, the UKGC published its new action plan on VIP Programmes, product design and further advertising practices, underlining that the directives have been designed to accelerate …
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Members of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) have committed to donating all profits from this weekend’s ‘Virtual Grand National’ to NHS Charities Together. The initiative has the backing of BGC members including bet365, William Hill, Flutter Entertainment, Sky Bet, GVC, BetFred, Betway, BetVictor, JenningsBet and Inspired Entertainment. Commenting on the initiative, BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said: “With the …
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In light of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s package of new measures to support UK businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has since been confirmed that betting shops and casinos will not qualify for relief in business rates. Backed by PM Boris Johnson, Sunak announced that the Treasury department had reserved £330 billion in business loans (equivalent to 15% of GDP) to …
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The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has strengthened its senior leadership team after confirming that Kevin Schofield has been appointed as Director of Communications and Digital. Schofield will join the BGC later this year, having accrued over 25 years experience in journalism by working at a range of media outlets including The Scotsman, The Herald, Daily Record and The Sun. …
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An afternoon of frantic Downing Street movements has seen Oliver Dowden (MP for Hertsmere Hertfordshire) promoted to the senior position of Secretary of State for Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Dowden replaces Baroness Nicky Morgan as DCMS leader, who stood down as a Conservative MP last December after choosing not to contest her constituency seat in the …
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