'Leisure Works' will be the theme for Business In Sport and Leisure's annual conference, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary and is scheduled to be held on November 10 in London.
BISL members include Danoptra (owner of Gamestec), pub operator J D Wetherspoon, betting and gaming operators Gala Coral Group and Rank Group, bookmakers Ladbrokes and William Hill, low stake high volume gaming operators Praesepe and Talarius and server-based gaming companies Inspired Gaming Group and The Global Draw.
Explaining the importance and relevance of the ‘Leisure Works’ theme, Dominic Harrison CEO of BISL said: “The sport, leisure and hospitality industry that BISL represents is a very significant part of the UK economy, generating over three per cent of GDP and employing in excess of four million people.
“Our businesses have traditionally created one in four new jobs and provided 27 per cent of the jobs undertaken by young people, making us a latent vehicle for economic growth. BISL’s ‘Leisure Works’ theme reflects these important characteristics and we will be highlighting how the industry can contribute to the economic recovery.”
He added: “With specific reference to the gambling sector the message we are sending to government is the need to reintroduce the triennial review as a method of creating a stable environment within which manufacturers, operators, retailers and indeed regulators can move forward in a sensible and business like manner.
“Similarly the proposed introduction of Machine Gaming Duty will put more businesses and more jobs at risk at a time when the economy can so ill afford it. Leisure does indeed work, providing it is allowed to.”