The Ernst Young report shows a land-based casino industry that has survived despite competition and strict overbearing regulation. Has the Government given any hint yet that some or indeed any of the NCIF policy proposals will be adopted?


It hasn’t yet. E&Y have produced a very significant piece of work which deserves proper consideration by government. I hope the government sees the opportunity of what is a win win situation here: Malcolm Moss is now leading that dialogue.


The vision in Britain for a 24 hour economy with casinos seen as the bright jewels in the crown of contemporary cities was largely built on continued growth. Now we have austerity and uncertainty over jobs and peoples futures, is that vision now dead?


There is still no doubt in my mind that - with support - casinos could contribute considerably more to the UK’s leisure and tourism economy. Obviously, the world economy has cooled since the Act passed into law, but the UK industry is still offering around 11000 new jobs and a massive increase in tax take.


For many towns, currently not permitted to have a casino, this kind of investment could be tremendously helpful. We are seeing more and more people who can’t afford expensive foreign holidays and fearing uncertainty in traditional Eurozone destinations - like Greece and Spain - planning ‘staycations’. Government should recognise that and help give impetus to the UK leisure and tourism sector. I think this is an particularly opportune time for growth in the domestic leisure sector.


Many organizations that seek to bring together competitive organizations with a common goal often fail as the larger groups tend to dominate – how has the NCIF been successful in listening to all of its members?


We’ve done it by communication. We’ve been open, clear and consistent in identifying a limited number of simply achieved objectives that have benefits for every size of operator and in allowing non-operators to become involved in the debate.


We have lawyers, academics and suppliers as forum members and single unit operators sit alongside the likes of LCI, Rank, Gala and Genting. We genuinely believe that there is


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nothing in what we are seeking as NCiF that would not be of benefit to all UK operators.


Are we likely to see a uniform and consistent message promoting all land-cased casinos in the future (ie promoting the genre positively) or will individual casino companies have to bear that responsibility?


I think that ‘Uniformity’ is quite difficult and probably undesirable. Operators want to promote their own businesses and use their own USP’s to tell consumers about their own products - that is what we expect in a competitive market place..


I think what you will continue to see is the amazing adherence to ASA standards and the continuation of a standard of conduct in messaging that is ethical, fair and honest, that the government doesn’ t seem to give the onshore casino industry enough credit for.


We note that Clarion, Harris Hagan and TCSJohnHuxley are now members. Is it your intention to allow other non-casino companies to play their part in the NCIF?


As well as being an effective trade association, from the outset we wanted the NCiF to be a forum for ideas about the sector and we didn’t feel that operators had the monopoly on wisdom, so it followed that we wanted others to be involved.


That has worked well for NCiF and in the longer term we hope it may provide a template for representation in the wider gambling sector - perhaps a National Gambling Industry Forum - that could unite around a few issues like social responsibility and taxation to the benefit of the whole industry.


What is your relationship with the ECA? Do you envisage more cooperation in the future?


We have a good relationship with the ECA. We are in regular dialogue and some of my colleagues and our Forum Director, Tracy Damestani, meet occasionally with ECA representatives. Ultimately, it’s for the Strategy Forum to decide whether the UK industry should become full members, but we intend to keep talking to the ECA and to the wider international community.


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