The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has called on ministers to recognise the importance of the Grand National as a heritage sporting event supporting UK racing and highstreet jobs. Following three years under lockdown constraints, The Grand National returns to hosting live spectators at Aintree on Saturday 9 April. Its main race is expected to be watched by a global …
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BGC: Industry is ‘supercharged’ to welcome visitors in English Tourism Week
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has stated that the UK’s gambling sector is ready to welcome international visitors through its doors after two years of travel and opening restrictions. With travel restrictions to the UK easing as the country emerges from COVID-19 lockdown and safety conditions, the BGC has reiterated the financial contribution the gaming industry makes via international …
Read More »YouGov research ‘lends credence’ to industry black market concerns
Fears of a prominent black market have been repeatedly made clear by the British betting and gaming sector as the 2005 Gambling Act review continues, with YouGov data often cited. Issuing an update, YouGov provided a breakdown of its findings with regards to black market usage, revealing that 17% of British bettors would wager on sports via unlicensed sites if …
Read More »Bacta calls for amusements’ consideration in Spring Statement
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced the government’s Spring Statement on the UK budget today, outlining a number of areas for investment as the country’s recovery from COVID-19 continues. Ahead of the statement, the UK’s betting and gaming trade associations have called on the government to take the industry into consideration, with amusement arcade body Bacta today focusing on …
Read More »BGC supports recovery plan but urges White Paper consideration
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has stated that the “well-meaning but naive changes to regulation” suggested as part of the review of the 2005 Gambling Act could put the industry and its economic contribution at risk. Releasing a statement this morning, the industry standards and trade body updated that it would support the government’s plan for recovery as the …
Read More »Michael Dugher: Gambling deserves a deeper debate than simplistic narratives
Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned ministers that gambling’s complex socio dynamics can not be judged on the notion of simplistic rhetoric. Writing on the Commons news source Politics Home, Dugher outlined stakeholder frustrations at the meandering nature of the debate on gambling reforms, industry duties and protections. His response was submitted as …
Read More »BGC: Progress on safer gambling duties at risk of a black market wipeout
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has reiterated the need to protect UK gambling’s continued progress on safer gambling objectives from growing black market threats. The trade body’s warning follows the publishing of the latest industry statistics by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) – that saw problem gambling % rates for 2021 register 0.3% lower than the previous 0.6 recorded …
Read More »BGC points to European black markets as warning to ministers
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has pointed to the ‘shocking scale’ of betting black market across European countries following the introduction of strict regulatory measures. With the publication of the government’s White Paper on the 2005 Gambling Act due in the spring, the BGC has consistently argued that imposition of strict requirements – such as greater affordability checks for …
Read More »BGC backs government’s Levelling Up job creation agenda
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has outlined a commitment to investing £20 million on staff training and development across the UK, in support of the government’s ‘Levelling Up’ job booster programme. In addition to the investment plans, the betting and gaming industry standards association has also pledged to create 5,000 apprenticeships for young people in the sector between now …
Read More »David Clifton: Thoughts on the APBGG Report on the competence & effectiveness of the UKGC
Back in September last year, the Parliamentary All Party Betting & Gaming Group (APBGG) launched its investigation into the competence and effectiveness of the Gambling Commission. Bearing in mind that the APBGG investigation followed on from heavy criticisms of the regulator by each of the National Audit Office, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, the Gambling Related Harm All Party Parliamentary Group and the House of …
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