Speakers at the annual general meeting for the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) held in Millbank Tower last week, appealed to members to ensure social responsibility forms the core of their operations, while standing up for the social and economic benefits of the betting industry.
The group’s chairman Paul Darling told members: “Responsible gambling, harm prevention and harm minimisation are and must be at the centre of everything the industry does.
“Each of those measures needs to be implemented, evaluated and the lessons learnt,” he went on. “Of course, and sadly, there will from time to time be lapses. Hopefully there will be few and become even fewer in the light of the strong management culture the industry now enjoys. The ABB - whilst I am its chairman - will not support or condone lapses. We will continue to do anything and everything we can to be systematically prudent of the industry’s response to responsible gambling.”
The subject of gaming machines in betting shops - namely fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) and the negative press they have garnered in recent weeks - was central to much of the discussion.
“It is our job to get the debate back to the evidence,” Darling added. “And I pledge to do all I can to achieve that, we are not going to stand by and let the misrepresentations continue unchecked. We have the Triennial Review coming up, many are putting forward sectional arguments, what is key in that debate is that the evidence is considered objectively.
“Do not twist, do not spin, just look at facts. I am confident that our regulator and the Government will be doing just that.”
Chief executive of the Gambling Commission Sarah Harrison, shared her perspective on the betting industry and the significant changes it can expect in the coming months. Amongst the key developments were the ongoing consolidation in betting markets, a rising priority for responsible gambling, a new independent chair of the Responsible Gaming Trust, anti-money laundering directives and local area risk assessments. Harrison also stressed that the Commission’s role is not to promote growth in the gambling industry and would be refining its focus to “put consumers at the heart of gambling regulation.”
She welcomed the recent press coverage of FOBTs, but agreed the debate must remain objective and evidence-based. “It’s important that there is public awareness and the opportunity for debate over the place these machines play in the market.
“However, it is important that the debate is conducted as best as is possible in an environment that draws on the evidence, and represents positions and rules clearly and fairly.”
The group’s newly appointed chief executive Malcolm George sought to remind members that high street betting shops served “so much more than an economic function” and were a “force for social good” that have brought leisure experiences to over eight million people each year.
He expressed his concerns, however, over damaging regulatory and fiscal changes and called on the Chancellor for “a period of stability” if retail betting is to survive, or indeed grow in the future.
“Last year alone approximately 300 shops closed; almost one a day,” said George. “Independent research shows that a further 1,200 may close by 2020, and that number applies only if the government keeps the regulatory framework for shops as it is. Increased taxes and further regulation could see the number of closures soar.”
Last to speak at the event was Labour MP for Islwyn, Chris Evans. Not only the son of a bookmaker, but the son of a bookmaker’s son, Evans explained how he had spent much of his youth working in betting shops. He challenged members to reinvent the betting industry in the public eye as other industries had done, by drawing attention away from problem gambling and focusing on the employment and community benefits of betting shops.
“I’m a true friend of the gambling industry and true friends always speak the truth,” he said. “What I believe is wrong with the betting industry is that despite supporting 100,000 jobs, where women make up 56 percent of workforce - a quarter are under 24 - and that employs more unskilled and uneducated people than anywhere else, what does this industry keep on talking about? It is absolutely obsessed with problem gambling.”
He gave the examples of the real ale and pub lobbyists in Westminster: “Do they start talking about alcoholics or what they’re doing to combat alcoholism? No. What they talk about is a great British tradition.”
“The betting industry makes a big game even bigger, and that’s how I want others to feel about our industry,” said Evans. “With a changed approach we can do that. It has been done before: the defence industry was once seen as maiming and killing people, now it’s about high tech training and apprenticeships. We can make that change; it’s about all of us being proud and counted for the industry that we love.”
The speeches were followed by an age verification training session for the ABB’s independent members.