Bacta’s President, John Bollom, has battled back against “a series of attacks” from the BBC towards the high street gambling industry.
Bollom issued a staunch defence of gambling venues on the UK’s high street after a BBC investigation sought to highlight significant compliance failures.
Last week, a BBC reporter alleged that he was able to play at four out of the five Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) he entered in Portsmouth, England, despite previously signing up to a self-exclusion register.
However, in a note to members of the trade body, Bollom slammed the report, describing it as an “unrepresentative investigation” across a small number of premises.
He continued: “It’s the latest in a series of attacks that seek to undermine our industry at a time when we are now becoming an essential part of many High Streets.
“Once again, the usual suspects have looked down their noses and decreed that our members are the irresponsible poor cousins of the gambling industry.”
Following the BBC’s revelations, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) confirmed that it has launched its own investigation into the failures, describing them as “very concerning”.
Bollom reassured members that Bacta is working with the UKGC, local Authorities and the DCMS to extoll the benefits of AGCs for the British high street.
He said: “AGCs are community hubs. They’re fun to spend time in. They are comfortable, hospitable and inviting social spaces. They create jobs. They bring footfall to High Streets, boosting other industries such as retail and hospitality. They provide life to empty shops, and contribute heavily to the local economy in terms of tax and employment.”
Bollom also refuted the claims made that the number of AGCs and problem gambling levels are on the rise.
In April, a letter addressed to DCMS Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed fear that local communities are being overwhelmed by “24-hour slot shops”.
36 councils and two mayors, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, signed the letter calling for “key reforms of the Gambling Act”, which they believe has overlooked community-level concerns about gambling harms.
He explained that according to UKGC statistics, the number of AGCs has gone down by 35% since 2011. In addition, the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), which is used to estimate the prevalence of problem gambling in the UK, has remained in the range of 0.3% to 0.7%.
“The vast majority of AGC customers gamble in a safe, responsible, and fun manner,” he emphasised. “This is a small minority of [problem gamblers], but nonetheless, we remain committed to ensuring they don’t slip through the safety net.”
A time to come together
Given that AGCs are under the microscope, Bollom insisted that it is vital that the industry pulls together to ensure that any loopholes that could lead to the failures evidenced by the BBC are closed.
He said: “A multi-operator self-exclusion system (MOSES) must be in place in every venue, offering customers the ability to self-exclude from facilities for the same type of gambling in the locality.
“Operators must ensure that staff operate the MOSES system. Colleagues must be able to access a tablet or other device and be able to carry out self-exclusions in the venue on that device. Staff must look at the pictures of self-excluders every day, and react appropriately when one enters the venue.”
