8 Coinslot May 20 - May 26, 2011 Industry INDUSTRY AMUSEMENTS LEISURE B2B COMMENT NEWSWEEK
CLASSIFICATION When is primary purpose not really primary purpose? Ask a bookie. 38
Regulator appears to seek a stronger relationship with the industry
REGULATION
Does the appointment of a new Commission chairman herald a new approach to industry relations? The initial signs are quite encouraging.
In his recent address to the Bingo Association’s AGM, new chairman of the Gam- bling Commission, Philip Graf, expressed a clear desire to achieve fresh progress on a number of fronts affecting the wider gambling industry. Among those issues was the clamp- ing down on the supply of illegal gaming machines. “That is something that is close to the hearts of every- body
involved in the
licensed gambling industry,” he commented. “The illegal market impacts on every- one operating within the law, and we are grateful to all the operators for their sup- port and helping us know where there is illegal activ- ity. Our confidential intelli- gence line received over 120 calls during its first six months, many of them from licensed operators.” Moving on to the regula-
tor’s merger with the National Lottery Commis-
PHILIP GRAF: THE MERGER WITH THE NATIONAL LOTTERY COMMISSION WILL SAVE MONEY
sion, he explained: “Part of my role will be to oversee that merger over the next year, 18 months or so. At the moment, we expect to com- plete the co-location by the end of the year - and that’s bringing the National Lot- tery Commission up to Birmingham. We’re already beginning to share some resources. But the full merger will take longer and does depend on legislation
like the Public Bodies Bill which is still going through Parliament and subsequent Parliamentary action. The merger will save money - good news. The bad news is that it is not going to happen immediately because we have some costs of the exer- cise to cover.” Graf hinted that he was also sympathetic to the industry’s frustrations at the lack of movement in the ongoing and protracted review of Category B3 machines.
“We await
patiently the outcome of the review of B3 gaming machines and to know what the impact will be on the change to machine gaming duty,” he said. “The Commis- sion has actually noted that as far as we’re concerned there is little evidence to suggest that a £2 maximum stake would have any signif- icant effect on problem gambling.” In response to question-
CHARLIE MANNING OF FELIXSTOWE On the 12th May 2011, passed away peacefully at home, aged 66. Much loved husband of Sarah, dear father of Charles and Jonathan, son of Heather and brother of David.
Funeral service at St John’s Church Felixstowe on Monday 23rd May at 2pm, followed by a family interment at Felixstowe Cemetary.
Family fl owers only please, but if wished donations to MacMillan Cancer Support, sent c/o Farthing Funeral Service,
126 High Rd West, Felixstowe Suffolk IP11 9AL
ing from the floor on the topic, Graf added: “I know the Commission has been working very hard behind the scenes to move this issue on. It may not appear so - the relationship between the regulator and its sponsoring body sometimes has to be private. The Commission is very mindful of the time it is taking. I will certainly under- take to add my voice to the desirability of getting this issue through sooner rather than later. There seems to be within government a much slower process of dealing with these things, ironically enough from a government that wants to deregulate. “So whatever these
changes are, I do believe - and all the evidence from everywhere suggests - that a strong relationship between us the regulator and you the regulated can only be for the good and con- tribute to effective regula- tion and value for money.”
business briefs
Big profits for Sega Sammy despite tough conditions
FINANCIALS Sega Sammy Holdings has posted its financial
results for the year ended March 31 2011, noting a significant increase in profits despite what it described as “the growing concern for the Japanese economic recovery losing its momentum.” Profits were up 104.8
percent to ¥41.5bn, com- pared to ¥20.3bn in the last financial year. The uplift came from factors includ- ing royalties from patents and reversal of subscrip- tion rights to shares. Rev- enue, meanwhile, rose by 3.1 percent to ¥396.7bn, up from ¥384.7bn year-on- year.
On the outlook, the firm noted that the Japanese economy remains unpre- dictable due to the effects of the recent earthquake, but expects sales to rise in the current financial year by 13.4 percent to ¥450bn. However, it pre- dicted a 20.5 percent drop in profits to ¥33bn. The company stated: “In the amusement machine and amusement
centre industry in which the conditions still remain challenging, there is a hint of recovery in the market mainly in the area of prize category such as the UFO Catcher. Meanwhile, the development and supply of innovative game machines that will further invigorate the market is expected, while a changeover to new busi- ness models is underway, which simultaneously enhance investment effi- ciency for amusement centre operators and secure sources of stable earnings for amusement machine manufacturers. “In the amusement machine sales business, the group will seek to rein- force product line-up in response to the changing business environment in this sector, along with the continuous deployment of the revenue shar- ing models, for the purpose of improving invest- ment efficiency of the operators of amusement cen- tres, while secur- ing long-term stable earnings for the company.”
DIRECT TRADE FUNDING FOR GAMCARE?
Trade body BACTA reports that its latest round of regional meetings is currently underway and that a number of points have been raised so far by members. Among them was the suggestion that there could be support for BACTA to fund the problem gambling charity GamCare directly. “This is something we are now looking into,” said the association.
DCMS PUBLISHES BUSINESS PLAN
The DCMS has published its Business Plan 2011-2015 this week. It sets out in detail how the department will boost eco-
nomic growth, equip the country for future success and transform the way it delivers culture, media, sport and tourism. “Trans- parency will be at the centre of everything we do. We want to provide the
public with useful information so they can judge our performance for themselves,” it noted.
NEW CHAIR FOR IOL
Jeremy Allen has been elected as the new chairman of the Institute of Licensing. According to the institute, he brings with him a wealth of experience in licensing and is a founding partner of law firm Popple- ston Allen. Allen who is already a Fellow Member of the Institute will take up his position on June 1 2011.
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