BETTER CHANGE STATESIDE
to have clinical and therapeutic services that can help people on the road to a gamble free recovery. I use the word minority deliberately because all evidence suggests that only a very small proportion of those who gamble experience harm. By creating a position where all gambling is classed as harmful not only are we making these people harder to find and help, but we are also stigmatising what is already a very secret addiction and potentially making people more reluctant or ashamed to seek help. The levy contributions will vary depending on the type of
organisation for example online operators are looking at a levy of 1% of their Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) whilst offline operators considered to have greater overhead costs are suggested to be charged 0.4% GGY as an act of levelling up. Game manufacturers, developers and lottery providers will all contribute to the levy and consultation into how this will be set up is underway. It has been proposed that the distribution of these funds will also be ringfenced with the bulk going to treatment services and the rest split between research and prevention. At Better Change we specialise in prevention through the promotion of positive play but we also recognise the importance of good quality research and treatment. We believe that no organisation should be excluded from the efforts to reduce gambling harm and we are saddened when care providers such as the NHS claim that there should be no collaboration with the gambling industry, a position we fundamentally disagree with at Better Change because we feel that true harm prevention will take place by working with the industry and its consumers at the earliest possible stage to educate, empower and inform people whilst they are actively playing to make sound decisions around how they gamble. Going back to the question I asked earlier, I do believe the majority of people gamble safely and we are committed to continuing to work with the industry to demonstrate this. Away from the UK it has been a year of mixed fortunes for many
operators trying to grow in other countries. The gold rush in the USA has proven to be a war of attrition as operators continue to fight for market share. Across Europe gambling regulation is tightening in some countries and liberalising in others and opportunities on the horizon in South America, the Middle East and Africa will certainly make for an interesting year in 2024 and beyond, we believe that the best way to keep players safe is through a well-regulated sector and we look forward to working with you in the future to support this in these new territories. The reputation of our industry is important and we want to be
able to collaborate with you in an environment that allows for progress as well as ensuring our players are safe. There have been plenty of positives to take from 2023 and we have loved being able work with more organisations than ever before to promote positive play but the warning signs are clear that there are some out there that want to place punitive restrictions on they way we work and label the sector as “unclean”! If you care about this industry as much as we do then 2024 is
the year to stand up and be counted! Wishing you all a happy, prosperous and above all POSITIVE New Year from myself and the team at Better Change.
JANUARY 2024 39
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