Publishing its party manifesto today, Labour confirms that it will sanction for a new ‘Gambling Act’, should it win the UK General Election on 12 December. Presenting the ’Real Change manifesto’, party leader Jeremy Corbyn stated that a new Gambling Act was required to overhaul betting advertising, making UK gambling legislation ‘fit for the digital age’. Beyond advertising, a new …
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There are times when writing a monthly column for SBC News presents a challenge. This is one of those months. It’s not because of the paucity of potential content. It’s because of the sheer volume of potential content. As it happens, there is a common thread running through all that I write about below, particularly with a General Election looming …
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Regulus Partners reviews a chaotic start to November trading for UK betting incumbents, featuring a high-level political resignation, the launch of a new industry representative body and an attack on remote gambling services by cross-party MPs… _____________ UK: in Parliament – Watson’s last bow strikes a worrying note for the industry The announcement this week that the Labour politician, Tom …
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In the latest major political news in the UK, Labour’s Deputy Leader Tom Watson has announced his resignation and that he will not be sitting in the upcoming General Election. The surprising news has sent shockwaves through the UK political scene but also has implications for the gambling industry, given that it was Watson who was spearheading a review into the …
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Opening the week, industry strategic consultancy Regulus Partners provides insight into whether Swedish gambling operators can effectively deliver a ‘duty of care’ to customers, and how the introduction of further problem gambling clinics can support harm prevention. UK: safer gambling – Leeds follows London on gambling disorder clinic This week, the second NHS clinic for problem gambling opened in Leeds. …
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The Gambling Commission has recently announced that it is reviewing the operating licences of (a) FSB Technology (UK) Limited (who voluntarily suspended activities on their Blackbet white label website) and (b) EveryMatrix Software Limited (in relation to which the Commission also suspended their ability to offer B2C remote betting and casino gaming, including pursuant to white label arrangements). Following on, as they …
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Industry strategic consultancy Regulus Partners reviews a week of conflict and consequences for UK betting incumbents adjusting to new FOBTs and social responsibility realities. _______________________ Last week saw optically conflicting news coming from the GB LBO sector as to the impact of the B2 ban (primarily) on likely shop closures. First, William Hill guided that around 700 shops (30% of …
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The governances of bet365, William Hill Plc, Flutter Entertainment, Sky Bet and GVC Holdings have pledged to the UK government that they will commit to increasing ‘voluntary contributions to 1% of gross-gaming-yield revenues’ – helping raise funds for UK problem gambling addiction, treatment and research initiatives. This morning the BBC reports that the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has …
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Labour Party Deputy Leader Tom Watson has published the full transcript of his speech on gambling reforms delivered yesterday to UK ‘cross-party’ thinktank DEMOS. In his opening statement, Watson outlines his belief that the UK gambling sector’s defence of FOBTs machines through ‘unacceptable lobbying’ has seen its incumbents ‘fall beyond public accountability’. Watson states that any future Labour government ‘must …
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UK media, this morning reports that Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson has stated that his party will establish a ‘new gambling ombudsman to protect UK consumers’. Watson follows his tough narrative on gambling, which last month saw the Labour deputy urge the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) to undertake a thorough review of online casinos licensed after 2014. Addressing ‘cross-party’ thinktank ‘Demos’, …
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