A Chance for Change
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Glyn Thomas talks to Philip Graf, Chairman of the UK Gambling Commission
ould we start this interview with a little background on the Gambling Commission that involves its history and its responsibilities?
The Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) established the Gambling Commission as an independent body with a clear remit to permit gambling and through effective regulation to ensure compliance with three licensing objectives – to keep crime out of gambling, to keep gambling fair and open and to protect children and the vulnerable from being harmed or exploited by gambling We licence the gambling industry in Great Britain in partnership with licensing authorities and are committed to the principles of better regulation. This means that we regulate in a transparent, accountable, proportionate, consistent and targeted manner using a risk based approach.
Over the last four years or so we have spent time and effort, initially to license the industry and then to ensure that operators know what is expected of them. The focus now is changing and we see our role becoming more one of an advisor, providing support through communication and engagement. In doing so, we will continue to support the bingo industry in the development of new initiatives that do not put the licensing objectives at risk.
What do you see as the main topics that will occupy you over the next year or so? Clearly the priority is to carry on with our day to day activity of regulating gambling to
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ensure compliance with the three licensing objectives while at the same time continuing to improve efficiency.
In addition, the merger of the Gambling Commission and the National Lottery Commission (NLC) will certainly occupy my time. My main aims here are to ensure the continued effective regulation of gambling while at the same time continuing to maximise the return to good causes and combining the best practices from the two organisations.
There are always issues to deal with when organisations merge and here a major one will be around co-location with the Commission in Birmingham and the
Bingo Life
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