Tag Archives: dcms

Sunak highlights racing concerns to DCMS ahead of Spring Statement

SBC News Sunak highlights racing concerns to DCMS ahead of Spring Statement

DCMS has been warned to protect the interests of horseracing, as the department prepares to publish its forthcoming White Paper that will demand a wholesale regulatory reform of the gambling sector. This weekend, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reported to have raised ‘specific questions’ with DCMS secretary Nadine Dorries on whether UK racing’s concerns have been weighed up by inbound reforms. …

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NHS problem gambling experts back statutory RET levy proposed by SMF think tank

SBC News NHS problem gambling experts back statutory RET levy proposed by SMF think tank

The NHS most senior clinicians treating gambling disorders have called for the government to impose a statutory levy on gambling industry revenues to fund the health service’s research, education and treatment (RET) programmes. On Sunday, Dr Matt Gaskell, Clinical Lead of the NHS Northern Gambling Service, revealed his support of a policy directive proposed by think tank Social Market Foundation (SMF) that demands an …

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Michael Dugher: Gambling deserves a deeper debate than simplistic narratives

BGC pledges to maintain safer gambling momentum. Michael Dugher.

Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned ministers that gambling’s complex socio dynamics can not be judged on the notion of simplistic rhetoric.  Writing on the Commons news source Politics Home, Dugher outlined stakeholder frustrations at the meandering nature of the debate on gambling reforms, industry duties and protections. His response was submitted as …

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DCMS notified of ‘going concern’ on racing levy’s post-covid recovery

SBC News DCMS notified of ‘going concern’ on racing levy’s post-covid recovery

The Horseracing Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has issued a ‘going concern’ notice on the funding scheme’s ability to continue after it published a troubling set of financial results today.  This morning, HBLB declared its annual report and accounts for 2020/2021 to DCMS, revealing that betting levy receipts taken for the year ending March 2021 had fallen to £82 million (2019/2020: …

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Peter Jackson: Sustainable play is key for Flutter to match changing UK economics

SBC News Peter Jackson: Sustainable play is key for Flutter to match changing UK economics

Peter Jackson, Group CEO of Flutter Entertainment Plc described 2021 results as a ‘tale of two halves” for the FTSE100 betting group’s UK&IRE brands.   Matched against COVID-influenced record wagering Q4 2020 comparatives, Jackson admitted that the group’s flagship UK&IRE business had somewhat lost its trading momentum. UK&IRE teams “saw a very material swing in sports results year-on-year. The swing from …

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Jack Ritchie inquiry to highlight UK Gambling’s system failures 

SBC News Jack Ritchie inquiry to highlight UK Gambling’s system failures 

The Sheffield Coroner’s Court has begun its inquest into the death of Jack Ritchie (24), a ‘chronic gambling addict’ who in November 2017 took his own life.  The scheduled two-week hearing will examine the role of UK gambling in his death, with regards to industry regulation and the support structures available to those suffering from gambling addiction and mental health …

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Winning Post: Gambling Review… History Repeating Itself?

SBC News Winning Post: Gambling Review... History Repeating Itself?

Can the UK government avoid the pitfalls of previous generational reviews of the gambling sector, and provide stakeholders with evidence-based reforms as required. The government’s pledge is maintained against a final backdrop, that sees Regulus Partners report on frantic lobbying by clandestine groups trying to influence outcomes… There were further signs this week that the history of gambling reviews in …

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NHS to cut all ties with GambleAware RET funding

SBC News NHS to cut all ties with GambleAware RET funding

The NHS has confirmed that it will no longer accept grants from the gambling sector to help co-fund its UK-wide problem gambling clinics and research, education and treatment (RET) programmes. NHS England published an open letter from Mental Health Director Claire Murdoch to GambleAware Chief Executive Zoë Osmond, confirming the decision that had been previously anticipated by stakeholders. GambleAware was …

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DCMS to further delay Gambling Review outcomes to May 2022

SBC News DCMS to further delay Gambling Review outcomes to May 2022

UK gambling stakeholders have been warned that the government will announce a further delay in the publishing of the White Paper of proposals to reform the industry. This morning, The Guardian reported that a further delay would push the publication of the White Paper to May 2022 – citing “three sources with knowledge of the process”. The government’s review of …

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David Clifton: Thoughts on the APBGG Report on the competence & effectiveness of the UKGC

SBC News David Clifton: Thoughts on the APBGG Report on the competence & effectiveness of the UKGC

Back in September last year, the Parliamentary All Party Betting & Gaming Group (APBGG) launched its investigation into the competence and effectiveness of the Gambling Commission. Bearing in mind that the APBGG investigation followed on from heavy criticisms of the regulator by each of the National Audit Office, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, the Gambling Related Harm All Party Parliamentary Group and the House of …

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