4 Coinslot May 20 - May 26, 2011 Industry


Pubs are latest to be caught by mystery shoppers


LEGISLATION


Gaming providers must do more to reinforce their age and access policies or tests will continue to expose any weaknesses.


T


he gaming machine sector has fallen foul of age and


access tests once again thanks to spot checks car- ried out by Bath and North East Somerset Council. Three out of four pubs in Bath which were tested as part of the exercise allowed a teenage mystery shopper to gamble on gaming machines unchecked. The council also targeted two betting shops where minors attempted to place a bet; but the volunteers were turned away. The three pubs, which have not been named, will be issued with warnings by council officials.


The council had written to all premises with gam- bling licences warning that the operation would be taking place.


Council senior trading standards officer Mike Reed


said: “Residents can be con- fident that we are acting to protect young people. We are not looking to ‘catch out’ pubs or betting shops - only to make sure they realise what is involved in meeting their licence requirements. That is why our first response to those who failed the test is to write a letter advising them on how to improve procedures. However, we will not hesi- tate to take stronger action in the future should that be required.” He added: “The establish- ments which broke the law will be written to and told how to improve their pro- cedures. They will be tested again in the future.” This latest development


breaks new ground for the machine sector, with previ- ous tests having concen- trated mainly on premises like AGCs and betting shops.


Milliken flies cue sports flag in South Africa


EXPORT Milliken, the producer of Strachan billiard


cloth, has increased its global reach following the appointment of Union Bil- liards as its new distribu- tor for South Africa. Owned by Rory Blake-


Taylor, Union Billiards has served the cue sport market since 1954. It makes snooker, pool, bil- liard and poker tables and the Hurricane brand of foosball tables from its head office in Roode- poort, Johannesburg.


With business partners in countries ranging from Beijing to the US, this latest appointment brings to 24 Milliken’s interna- tional supplier network. Milliken marketing


director Duncan Kettell said: “Union Billiards, with outlets in Cape Town and Durban, gives Mil- liken a great platform to develop cue sports in South Africa and we are delighted to have such a successful company on board.”


And according to one spe- cialist in the field of mystery shopping, the industry will have to up its game if it is to perform better in these vital tests.


Charlie Mowat, a director


at Serve Legal, says the focus on age and access really began to intensify back in June of 2009 when bookies were targeted by the Gam- bling Commission, result- ing in a major failure of procedures. “That was led by the Commission,” he said. “They were responsible for testing and they led the engagement with the oper- ators to talk to them about how they were going to


improve their standards. But what’s happening now is that the local authorities and police are doing their own testing and that’s pre- senting a challenge for the industry.


“The Gambling Commis- sion has a consistent approach across all its visits because it’s one organisa- tion. But there are hun- dreds of local authorities and they all have their own approach. It’s a concern and it does mean that oper- ators will have a challenge they haven’t had to deal with as yet.” Mowat adds that while the LBO sector has actively


 Email: cm@sjc.co.uk CHARLIE MOWAT:


THE INDUSTRY FACES NEW CHALLENGES ON AGE AND ACCESS


Gordon Moody


Association benefits from industry funding


SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Funding provided by the


gambling industry is being put to good use with the award of a £747,000 grant to the Gordon Moody Association via the Responsible Gambling Fund (RGF).


The money will be used


grasped the nettle and insti- gated many of the changes necessary to become more compliant on age and access, the AGC sector appears to be reluctant to seek advice. That could be perceived as a questionable approach given the fact that test purchasing is going to be a hard fact of life for oper- ators in the AGC, betting and pub sectors in future. Mowat’s advice is for stake- holders to seek profes- sional help and, most importantly, talk to their local licensing officers. More on test purchasing


and Serve Legal will follow in next week’s issue.


Big turnout anticipated for next leg of GB9 tour


POOL The pool business is look- Said the organisers:


ing forward to the next instalment of the ongoing GB9 Ball tour. It returns to Daventry’s Barceló Hotel over the weekend of June 17-19 and is expected to attract a major turnout of 144 players, all battling it out for the GB9 Paul Medati Trophy. The cup is named in honour of cue sport player Medati who lost a battle against cancer in 2008 at the age of 65. The Daventry event is also something of a first for


PLAYERS WILL COMPETE FOR A TROPHY NAMED IN HONOUR OF PAUL MEDATI (PICTURED)


the tour in that it will include the world famous female referee Michaela Tabb. Her record speaks for itself, having taken care of seven 9-ball championship finals.


“Entry to spectators is free of charge throughout the weekend, but any dona- tions made to Macmillan Cancer Support would be extremely welcome.” It added: “In 2011, the GB9 tour is proudly spon- sored by Barceló Hotels, SAM Leisure, Simonis Cloth, Aramith Billiard Balls and CueClubInternational.co m making the perfect com- bination of the very best equipment in the most out- standing venues.”


to provide two therapeutic residential communities - one in Dudley and one in Beckenham - providing a 12-week revolving pro- gramme of cognitive behavioural workshops and exercises. It will also fund remote and home support for those awaiting a residential treatment space, and those who have completed the 12 week programme. The residential pro- gramme is well estab- lished, says the association, and has demonstrated its ability to enable those taking part to overcome their addictions and return to a stable life. Chairman, Sir Geoffrey de Deney, commented: “We are very pleased that the Responsible Gambling Fund has approved this grant and shown confi- dence in the association’s ability to provide a unique service to problem gam- blers. With this financial backing the association can continue to ensure that our services meet the needs of our client group.” Baroness Julia Neu-


berger, chair of trustees of the RGF, said: “The Gordon Moody Associa- tion combines residential and other therapeutic services that aid the battle against problem gambling. I am delighted that RGF’s grant will continue to sup- port this work so that it continues to support those affected by gam- bling dependency, and so they can make significant and lasting changes to their lives.”


TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40