Yesterday, the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) revealed that it would demand the Government to impose a statutory levy in order to replace the current system that allows gambling operators to make voluntary funding for charity organisations engaged with research and treatment of gambling addictions. According to the RGA, the UK authorities need to make sure there is enough funding for the National Responsible Gambling Strategy.
Currently, it is the non-governmental charity organisation GambleAware which oversees the voluntary funding system. The latter was initially created by the local gambling industry in order to ensure that a large variety of projects promoting social responsibility and responsible gambling are provided with enough funding.
Of course, there are companies that have made regular contributions over the years, but some charity organisations have already shared that many gambling operators in the UK do not keep their promises of making regular voluntary payments to the industry, which has resulted in less specialised treatment services for problem gamblers and less resource available for gambling addictions research and education.
Over the recent months, representatives of some charities have raised their voices, criticising the voluntary character of the system and claiming it was not longer efficient enough in order to guarantee that its purposes are met. This concern was probably the main reason why in October, the Department of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) included one very specific question in its Consultation on proposals for Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures changes. The question concerned the future of voluntary funding of research, education and treatment of problem gambling behaviour in the country.
Time for a Change, RGA’s CEO Clive Hawkswood
Previously, the Remote Gambling Association which is the largest online gambling trade association on a global scale, was not opposed to introduction of statutory levy in the UK gambling market. Now, it has taken the matter into consideration and and decided that it should urge the authorities to introduce a levy that would guarantee much more stability to the system, hence to the funding of problem gambling research, education and treatment.
As revealed by the Remote Gambling Association, it is to urge the Government to introduce such a levy and is to come up with a proposal for more efficiency of the system to be guaranteed and implemented as soon as possible.
The Chief Executive Officer of the RGA, Clive Hawkswood, commented on the matter, saying that the idea of the voluntary funding system was very good, but the industry needed a fresh start in order to become more efficient in dealing with problem gambling and reduce gambling-related harm. Mr. Hawkswood shared the Association’s disappointment with the current voluntary payment system and the fact that it turned out to be inefficient when it comes to fund-raising for charity organisations.
As the CEO of the Remote Gambling Association said, now the organisation has recognised the problem and was ready to come up with a possible solution. The RGA’s boss further explained that more funding is needed in order for the charity organisations to meet their targets and fulfil their responsibilities.
- Author
Daniel Williams
