Tag Archives: John Bollom

John Bollom, President of UK industry trade body Bacta, has hit back at the recent BBC probe into land-based player safety standards. Bollom called a recent BBC investigation “unrepresentative”, after an undercover reporter was allegedly allowed to play across a number of Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) in South England despite self-excluding themselves. Player protection policies mandated by the UK Gambling …

UK gaming venues remain in crisis as DCMS has no plans to implement machine ratio reforms needed for modernisation. Though unconfirmed, it appears that the government will shelve plans to modernise the rules and offerings of Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) on UK high streets. DCMS has stalled plans to reconsider the relaxation of rules around B3 Gaming Machines allowed in …

Visiting Bacta’s SR Exchange conference, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) highlighted some areas where Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) seem to be lagging. The regulator’s Director of Policy, Bryony Sheldon, addressed the fully-booked Bacta Social Responsibility Exchange venue in Leeds by opening up with an overview of the AGC shortcomings that the UKGC witnessed in 2024.  AGC on-site compliance UK-wide venue …

Martin Burlin, EAG Chairman of 15 years, has confirmed that he will step down from the role in January next year.  This was announced by the UK’s amusement and high-street trade body Bacta, which is also the organiser of annual Entertainment, Attractions and Gaming Expo (EAG) events.  He will deliver his last 2025 EAG Expo as a Chairman between 14 …

The UK government will proceed to relax and revamp the rules related to operating gambling venues, with a view to improving customer safeguards, modernising competition, and keeping pace with wider consumer changes. DCMS has published its response to the consultation on ‘measures related to land-based gambling’ as proposed by the Gambling Review’s White Paper. Regulatory oversight of the White Paper’s …

Bacta President John Bollom has expressed the trade association’s admiration and congratulations to Ygam. The safer gambling charity was founded by Lee Willows and uses education as a tool to raise awareness and help safeguard against gaming and gambling harms. The news comes as the charity celebrates its 10th year. Bolllom noted Ygam was established by Lee Willows, with Anne …

Bacta’s Technical Standards Group has announced that it will be working in partnership with colleagues from the Bingo Association’s Gaming Machine Working Group. Headed by MERKUR UK’s Alan Claypole, the new mission is to produce a set of industry recommendations on enhancements to existing regulations which will enable the machines sector to remain ‘competitive’ and uphold the ‘highest standards of …

Bacta has confirmed that it’s moving its 21 April National Council meeting from London to Leeds with members invited to meet with the Council over lunch and participate in an informal Open Forum. Bacta will hold its next National Council meeting on 21 April in Leeds instead of London, the industry body confirmed to stakeholders. This comes as part of …

UK’s amusement and gaming machine trade body Bacta has made a push to gain more leverage in industry decision making with the launch of its new census. The census itself consists of a survey sent out to Bacta members, with the answers aimed to inform the organisation’s lobbying campaign to push for control over the stake and prize review, as …

Bacta has stated that it has ‘fired the starting gun’ on its engagement with DCMS in the interest of UK amusement and gaming machine industry stakeholders. The trade body has issued an ‘evidence-based’ response to DCMS with regards to increasing the maximum stake and prizes offered by gaming machines in UK adult entertainment venues. Writing to DCMS Secretary of State, …