BGC implores DCMS to safeguard gaming employment ahead of reforms

On Tuesday, the BGC executive team presented their evidence and comments to the DCMS Select Committee Inquiry into Gambling Reforms.

The BGC CEO, Michael Dugher, and the Standards and Innovation Executive, Wes Himes, discussed upcoming changes before the release of the first consultations of the Gambling Review’s White Paper.

Mr Dugher started his address by urging the MPs to consider the 22.5 million people who participate in regular gambling. “I want to just begin by talking about a group of people whose voice has been occasionally lost in this whole white paper process.” Dugher stated. “And that is the 22.5 million people who enjoy a bet on a regular basis. They’re also people who work hard, pay their taxes, look after their families and it’s what they choose to do with their money.”

The White Paper’s initiatives demonstrate the BGC’s commitment to improving the industry as a whole, safeguarding its most vulnerable members, and maintaining the 110,000 jobs that are dependent on regulated gambling.

Those measures included enhanced spending checks for online casinos, an industry ombudsman, a new mandatory levy to fund research, education and treatment, stake limits for online slots and modernisation proposals for casinos.

The BGC supports the White Paper’s initiatives to improve the industry, safeguard the most vulnerable players, keep their employment, and bring about a more contemporary gambling environment in the United Kingdom, reports British Gambler, an online site that reviews and compares legal gambling websites.

However, CEO Michael Dugher has asked legislators to take baby steps when making adjustments to safeguard the economic and labour contribution of a heavily taxed sector.

While BGC members are delighted to support struggling main streets, Mr Dugher told the lawmakers that 2,000 bookies have closed since 2019, resulting in the loss of almost 10,000 jobs.

“Betting shops currently support around 42,000 jobs, contribute £1bn a year in tax to the Treasury and another £60m in business rates to local councils. The regulated betting and gaming industry contributes £7.1bn to the economy, generates £4.2bn in tax and supports 110,000 jobs.”

The CEO also went on to address the issue of the 0.3% problem gamblers that had been recorded. The BGC was set out to handle the issue that was impending. He also stated that the problem gambling issues had gone down by half since 2017.In response to the White Paper, the BGC has teamed up with the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport and the regulator, the Gambling Commission, to conduct a series of consultations.