A business survey carried out by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has revealed that UK gambling firms have been divided in their response to Coronavirus restrictions, with only one-third of corresponding companies accessing government support. DCMS’ survey, entitled The Coronavirus Impact Business Survey, suggested that the majority of gambling companies were land-based, however the specific details of …
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DCMS has confirmed that operators of UK ‘adult gaming centres’ (AGCs) in England will not be allowed to reopen their venues as anticipated on Monday 15 June. Listed as retail venues, UK arcades had been scheduled to reopen from the start of next week alongside betting shop counterparts, a decision previously communicated by the government on the weekend of 23 …
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Communicating on behalf of its members, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has declared that England’s casinos will be ready to reopen and service the public safely from 4 July. As part of the government’s ‘stage 3’ arrangement of lockdown easings, hospitality and leisure businesses across England will be allowed to reopen from 4 July, providing that they adhere to …
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The UK government will allow domestic competitive sports to recommence from 1 June, as governing bodies are ordered to obey strict ‘stage three guidance’ ensuring athlete safety and venue hygiene requirements. This weekend, DCMS published its updated ‘Elite Sports’ guidance, outlining its proposed framework for the return of domestic sports competitions. The framework of safety requirements and protection measures has …
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The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has backed the government continuing its UK furlough scheme until October, branding it a much needed measure to help support around 64,000 of the industry’s workforce. Yesterday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged that the government would continue its business relief measures, in which a furlough scheme has been established to pay ‘80% of wages up …
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GVC Holdings has backed the UK Gambling Commission‘s (UKGC) decision to enforce additional industry lockdown measures to protect vulnerable consumers. Yesterday, the UKGC published a series of immediate operator requirements on customer interventions, player monitoring, due diligence and affordability checks. The temporary requirements approved by the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) relate to concerns that UK consumers could …
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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has this morning confirmed the appointment of four new commissioners, strengthening its regulatory oversight for a crucial 2020 agenda and further future proceedings. The commissioner appointments have been approved by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) – allowing Terry Babbs, Brian Bannister, Jo Hill and Sir Martin Narey to join UKGC governance …
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National Lottery operator Camelot Group has announced that it will further support UK charities operating through lockdown hardships by rolling out a ‘£600 million impact fund’. Through its existing stakeholder network, the National Lottery will direct immediate funds to charities that have been impacted hardest by COVID-19 circumstances and further aims to support organisations supporting the most vulnerable UK communities …
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In recent weeks, government officials have called upon the gambling industry to ramp up protection measures and provide additional funding for problem gambling treatment during the COVID-19 lockdown. Speaking to SBC, EPIC Risk Management CEO Paul Buck explained that while additional funding for treatment would be welcome, further support for both research and education is key in mitigating gambling related …
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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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