Author: Daniel Williams

Neil McArthur, head of the major gambling regulator in the UK has warned gambling operators’ executives that their companies advertising campaigns are being dangerous to young people who could become problem gamblers. The Conference gathered about 170 executives representing over 100 bookmakers, to which Mr. McArthur explained that competent regulators and authorities have been facing what he called a “significant challenge” to deal with the negative consequences which occurred as a result of gambling addiction among young people. He further urged them to be more responsible to customers’ safety and…

GamCare Isle of Man has helped local problem gamblers with offering approximately 3,000 appointments since 2011. The deputy director of the leading provider of free professional advice and counselling for treatment and prevention of problem gambling, Lyndsey Smart, shared that about 90% of the people who reach GamCare are self-referrals who are looking for some help in order to deal with a gambling addiction they are facing. According to Ms. Smart, gambling addiction was often not so obvious, so families of compulsive gamblers were usually not aware of the problem…

UK lawmakers who are concerned about the possible social harm caused by controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) have found a new way to take action against the recently unveiled plans of the Government to put off the expected industry crackdown until October 2019. At the time he presented the next year’s budget, Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, revealed that the expected change in the maximum stake allowed on gambling machines is to be implemented six months later than expected. The new rules were initially expected to be brought into…

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, has confessed that the put off the implementation of the fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) crackdown after lobbying from the industry. Chancellor Hammond explained that he initially intended to roll out the changes in the gaming duty in April 2019 in order to compensate for the revenue expected to be lost as a result of the reduction of the FOBT maximum stake from £100 to £2. However, gambling operators claimed that the changes could have a devastating impact on their businesses, as about 21,000 jobs…

Dr. Alan Smith, the Bishop of St Albans, started a fierce attack on the Government’s decision to put back the introduction of the new maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). He commented on the delay in an online article for the Observer, saying that the new betting limit on the machine should be rolled out as soon as possible in order for the Government to make sure that people, who were potentially in danger of becoming problem gamblers or were already suffering from gambling addiction, were protected. The Bishop…

Tracey Crouch, Minister of Sports and Civil Society, has resigned to object the UK Government’s unwillingness to roll out the crackdown on infamous fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) quicker. Ms. Crouch has been one of the most active politicians who joined the campaign against the addictive machines, launching a review according to which FOBT stakes should have been reduced from £100 to £2. Her resignation comes only a few days after the Chancellor revealed next year’s budget and it became clear that the long-expected changes would not be put into action…

The Sports and Civil Society Minister Tracey Crouch is considering a possible departure from her current role following the UK Government’s announcement that the planned reduction of fixed-odds betting terminals’ maximum stake will be delayed until October 2019, The Telegraph has revealed. According to media reports, Ms. Crouch has not been satisfied with the delayed reduction in FOBT stakes to £2 which the Treasury revealed a few days ago. The Telegraph contacted her on Wednesday evening while she is on a visit to the US, and Minister Crouch did not…

The New South Wales (NSW) Government has shared that a gambling policies reform package which was introduced earlier in 2018 has resulted in an increase in the local residents’ losses generated on poker machines, also known as pokies. The changes in question were rolled out in March 2018. At the time they were rolled out, Paul Toole, the racing minister, described them as “the most significant set of reforms” brought to the gaming regulation of NSW in no less than a decade. The gambling policies amendments were backed by the…

Gibraltar is trying to stop gambling companies from relocating to Malta after BREXIT. The British Overseas Territory, which has long been an attractive destination for gambling operators due to its favourable gambling legislation, could soon face some negative consequences due to UK’s exit from the European Union (EU). Some concerns were raised at the time when bet365 and 888, which are currently two of the largest online gambling companies based in Gibraltar, announced their intentions to relocate some (or even most) of their operations to Malta because of BREXIT. However,…

Once again, the UK Chancellor has been urged to proceed with the planned reduction of the maximum stake allowed on controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). A large number of local councils have called Mr. Philip Hammond not to delay the crackdown on infamous gambling machines in order to tackle gambling-related harm. Chancellor Hammond is expected to officially reveal the deadline for the announced changes today, along with the next year’s budget. Only a few days ago, media reports emerged that the long-expected changes in the FOBT regime are most likely…