BETTER CHANGE
Both sides of the love/hate divide in gambling have a skewed view - those who oppose gambling lobby for reform, looking to sway public opinion that then puts political pressure on governments. They campaign for tighter regulation and prohibition of certain products as well as getting involved in matters of taxation. Some who I have encountered have good reason to dislike gambling but reluctance to engage with the sector and work towards practical solutions leaves them isolated, fighting battle after battle without satisfaction, without it ever being enough. Those that champion the industry (me included) must do so in a way that demonstrates the good that we do and the contributions that we make whilst also owning our challenges, otherwise we never make progress. It is no longer good enough to be seen to be doing the right thing, we need to show that we are. But it’s doing the right thing within the realms of what we can control and what is right for our business. Working towards eradicating harm is a noble gesture but we will only ever fall short, running a sustainable business, preventing harm, and satisfying your regulatory obligations are all within our control and are the things we should be shouting about when we achieve them.
We need to be more critical not just of our own operations but of external resources too! If you have been questioning things lately and thinking “that’s good but how will it get me through an audit” or “how will this benefit my customer journey” in matters of compliance, training or safer gambling, we would love to hear your views. Play Positively Rob
Rob Mabbett
Rob joined Better Change from the charity Gordon Moody where he spent 5 years running their international gambling helpline “Gambling Therapy” as well as helping to raise their profile and ensure sufficient treatment spaces were available in their residential treatment centres to meet demand. With over 12 years industry experience, including being a previous winner of the Racing Post and SiS Betting Shop Manager of the Year award, Rob brings a unique insight into the prevention and treatment of gambling harm and is keen to focus his efforts further upstream as we aim to prevent against gambling harm at Better Change through Positive Play.
FEBRUARY 2026 21
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