Mixed reception for Gambling Commission’s plan

The proposal by the UK Gambling Commission to appoint a panel of experts to advise it on matters pertaining to the industry has received a mixed reception from trade bodies.

Peter Hannibal (pictured), chief executive of the Gambling Business Group, described the proposal as “scary,” while broadly, John White of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association, said his organisation was supporting the idea, provided that it was impartial.

The commission released its 2020/1 Business Plan, outlining key priorities for the year ahead, on April 1, before the full impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was felt in the UK. Nevertheless, commission CEO Neil McArthur referred to the virus as “extraordinary circumstances” that would bring “significant challenges” to the gambling industry.

The report covered many aspects of the commission’s plans for the year, but was immediately criticised by Hannibal. He told us: “There is no mention in here of the devastating effect that the restrictions caused by Covid-19 is going to have on the industry that the commission regulates. Offline gambling is closed. Sporting events are not happening.

“This could be worse than the smoking ban in terms of long-term damage to gambling in the UK. Are they not bothered?”

Hannibal points out that the commission’s fees from revenues are likely to decrease as a result of the missing gross gaming yield, yet there is no reference to it in the planning, nor any coverage of the action the commission would be taking.

His fiercest comments come on the proposal for setting up the Experts by Experience Advisory Board. The commission said in its published plan: “Their advice will ensure that the voice of the consumers, particularly those who have experienced harm, more fully informs decisions at the heart of the organisation.”

Said Hannibal: “This is probably the most scary comment in the document. Where is the proportional representation from ‘experts by good and positive experience’ on this decision-making board? Decisions at the heart of the Gambling Commission are going to be advised by those with a prejudice against gambling. There is only going to be one direction taken from such a biased and ill-judged decision.”

A more relaxed view is taken by John White at BACTA, the association more closely connected to the street market of adult gaming centres and AWPs in pubs. “The establishment of an Experts by Experience group has been inevitable for some time. Whatever the format, I think it is crucial that those with experience of gambling are listened to. It will help bring a different and hopefully helpful perspective to the commission’s thinking. We have supported it.”

White also noted, however, that if it is not “experts by experience,” he would be critical of the proposal.

He said: “I have argued strongly that it is really important that this group includes experts by experience from a range of players. It cannot just be people who have experienced problems, as this would totally distort the rounded picture the commission is trying to build. You need those players who play and don’t experience harm.

“The one illuminates the other. Why do two different but similar people doing the same thing end up having different experiences? You need both to answer the questions. Analogously, you cannot understand light without dark and vice versa.”