Tag Archives: National Strategy

Anna van der Gaag: RET research must be responsive to society’s greater needs 

SBC News Anna van der Gaag: RET research must be responsive to society’s greater needs 

Anna van der Gaag (CBE), the Chair of the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG), has stated that UK gambling requires urgency in developing evidence-led research to reduce gambling harms.  The University of Surrey Professor on Ethics and Regulation has led the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) advisory on research, education and treatment (RET) since 2018. Writing an update for the …

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YGAM seeks new CEO as founder Lee Willows departs charity

SBC News YGAM seeks new CEO as founder Lee Willows departs charity

Lee Willows has ended his seven-year tenure as Founder and Chief Executive of YGAM – The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust. This morning YGAM issued a statement confirming that Willows would be leaving the charity at the end of the month. A former teacher, Willows founded YGAM in 2014 with lived experience partners Anne and Keith Evans, establishing the …

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GamCare: Government’s Gambling Act review must fill RET social gaps

SBC News GamCare: Government's Gambling Act review must fill RET social gaps

GamCare has become the latest problem gambling treatment support stakeholder to publish its ‘consultation phase’ response to the UK government’s review of the 2005 Gambling Act.    As the operator of the National Gambling Helpline, GamCare stated that its response was reflective of the experiences of its staff and volunteers who support more than 40,000 people who engage with its services …

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GambleAware: Government must clear gambling disorders social hurdles

Zoe Osmund, GambleAware

GambleAware has published its response to the UK government’s call for evidence in its ongoing review of the 2005 Gambling Act. Trustees of the charity have urged DCMS to continue to maintain a concentrated focus on combatting and reducing the social impacts of problem gambling on UK society. Noting the impact on the public resources of healthcare, criminal justice, welfare …

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David Clifton, Licensing Expert: Gambling Commission dominates early 2021 headlines

SBC News David Clifton, Licensing Expert: Gambling Commission dominates early 2021 headlines

As I write this, the last week has seen a huge amount of information emanating from the Gambling Commission. We have seen it publish a short online survey, seemingly aimed at the general public, urging them to have their say on how gambling companies interact with their customers, with a particular focus on affordability. It runs until 9 February, the …

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Winning Post: NHS self-isolates during Safer Gambling Week

SBC News Winning Post: NHS self-isolates during Safer Gambling Week

Industry leadership and social responsibility advocates should be concerned at the NHS’ cold stance on Safer Gambling Week. Regulus Partners acknowledges the safer gambling initiative’s obvious flaws but states that it should not be discounted as virtue signalling by betting operators.  _________________ The NHS’s decision to criticise ‘Safer Gambling Week’ reveals much about the challenges facing the National Strategy to …

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Lee Willows, YGAM: Education is central to gambling reform 

SBC News Lee Willows, YGAM: Education is central to gambling reform 

Lee Willows, Chief Executive of educational charity The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM), said that the education sector must be further engaged in the regulatory makeup of the gambling sector.  Willows made his statement reflecting on the significant events of last week, following three separate industry oversight reports being published by the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG); …

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Lords call for ban on sponsorship in wide ranging gambling report

SBC News Lords call for ban on sponsorship in wide ranging gambling report

A Lords report into gambling regulation has called for ‘urgent action’ to address harms caused by gambling.  House of Lords Gambling Select Committee’s report ‘Gambling Harm – Time for Action‘ has taken over a year to compile and the results do not make pretty reading for the industry, the regulator and the government. On its launch, Committee Chair Lord Grade …

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David Clifton: Licensing Expert – UK stakeholders point towards ‘Safety First’ approach on player protections

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert – UK stakeholders point towards 'Safety First' approach on player protections

Last week, I chaired an excellent gambling conference on the subject of “Player Protection”. The event was attended by a broad cross-section of stakeholders – licensed B2C operators (both land-based and remote and from different sectors of the industry), B2B gambling software and age/identity verification providers, gambling industry lawyers and consultants, gambling-related harm treatment providers, experts in gambling blocking and …

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