The apparent delays in implementing the recommendations of the 2023 white paper on gambling in the UK may not be circumstantial, but deliberate, says Bacta.
It has identified negative influences that are slowing or stopping reform of anything that may be positive in the white paper proposals.
As a result, it has formed a "rapid response unit" to combat the opposition. Bacta said this week that the response unit is led by vice-president Joseph Cullis (pictured).
It draws on the expertise and experience of a team of Bacta National Council members comprising Elizabeth Speed (Novomatic UK), Tony Boulton (Merkur Group UK), Jeremy Godden (Godden Gaming), Peter Davies (Inspired Entertainment) and former Bacta president Nick Harding, who over a five-year period grew Praesepe from a cash shell to a national brand operating 180 gaming venues and with a workforce of 1,800.
The dedicated team is being supported by current Bacta president John Bollom, executive director (government relations) George McGregor and public affairs advisor Dane Bainbridge.
Bacta has become increasingly concerned at a propaganda campaign targeting Britain’s high street AGCs and which is designed to tarnish the reputation of the industry in the eyes of policy makers and politicians operating at both national and local levels.
Explaining how the unit will operate and the egregious challenges the industry faces, Joseph Cullis said: “Make no mistake, this is much more than simply a couple of inflammatory and salacious newspaper reports.
"We are facing a highly motivated and well-funded campaign where the ultimate end game is to drive responsible gambling entertainment businesses, employing local people and sustaining supply chains of local business, off the high street.
“The media coverage, much of which is based on half-truths and misinformation, is feeding the briefing of politicians and policy makers which we believe may explain the otherwise unfathomable delay in the implementation of the white paper reforms.
"We have allocated additional resource to increase and enhance our lobbying activities and we are commissioning additional independent economic impact research.
"I can assure Bacta members that we will be bringing the full influence of the trade association to take on the anti-gambling coalition and debunk its spurious accusations and exploitation of statistics.”
