Leading UK Operators Invite Lord Chadlington to Lead Independent Committee on Safer Gambling

Five of the largest gambling operators in the UK have asked safer gambling advocate Lord Chadlington to chair an independent committee which will seek to address the administration of funds towards safer gambling initiatives, including the treatment of problem gambling.

The news follows on from the five companies (Bet365, Flutter Entertainment, GVC Holdings, Sky Betting and Gaming, and William Hill) setting out their commitment to raise their voluntary contributions from 0.1% to 1% of gross gambling yield by 2023. The five companies highlighted four key areas in which the additional funding will be distributed: treatment; advertising; transparency; and data sharing.

“The committee will consult widely to formulate its recommendations taking account in particular of the views of government, regulators, the third sector, gambling operators and those with lived experience. I am pleased to accept the invitation to chair this committee particularly as the five gambling companies are committed to implementing any reasonable recommendations it may make. I will announce the membership of the committee by mid-September,” Lord Chadlington accepted the invitation and said.

“We are absolutely committed to providing further funding toward treatment and other responsible gambling initiatives, and we believe the committee will identify and recommend how best to deploy effectively this investment. We believe this is an important step towards creating a safer gambling environment and look forward to reviewing and implementing its recommendations later this year,” a spokesperson for the five companies said.