BETTER CHANGE
But sadly based on the premise that they would hold the purse strings of the levy the fear of consequence from many in the third sector prevented them from speaking out. The final piece of the jigsaw was the voice of the consumer, apart from several racing fans who spoke out about proposed affordability checks the only gamblers voices that were heard during the calls for evidence and the subsequent consultations where from those who had experienced harm. Once again there is no blame at their door, gambling can have a devastating effect on people’s lives and those around them and the lessons we can learn from peoples battles against addiction and recovery journeys are both valuable and inspiring but what is missing is the voice of the average gambler who plays without issue for recreation. These are the vast majority of our customers, but many were probably blissfully unaware that a review of gambling regulation was even taking place. So that is where we ultimately found ourselves, blanket restrictions in the hope that it might stop a few people from experiencing harm and a levy way bigger than treatment figures in the UK suggest it should be with little to no mention of the need to address or modify the behaviour that can lead to harm.
THE BUCK STOPS HERE
as possible so that they get more money, why should they care about the good work that the gambling industry does? The master stroke from the public health sector during this campaign was to lobby for control of a mandatory levy for treatment by tarnishing the reputation of the previous voluntary RET system. This was done by declaring that any organisation who accepted funding from or who worked with the industry was in some way influenced or in some sort of dastardly collusion with them. Utter nonsense!
I did say at the start of this article that my glass is half full and I assure you that it is. The certainty and the closure that these announcements bring provide an opportunity for the industry both in the UK and for those around the world who have been following the developments over the past four years. We need to take back ownership of our customer journey, the welfare of our colleagues and customers and the reputation of our industry. The politics of the past few years has been damaging but with a clear separation
between the industry and the organisations that provide services to those experiencing harm we can move forward with a clear focus. Already we have seen a more industry focussed safer gambling week with panels, presentations and new initiatives showcasing gambling operators and suppliers commitment to safer gambling as well as the new CEO of the UK Betting Gaming Council, Grainne Hurst declaring we should be “loud and Proud” as an industry. Events are moving away from the traditional areas dedicated to safer gambling in favour of areas focused on sustainability which will include ESG, DEI and tech solutions for player protection whilst here at Better Change we are extending our industry training in collaboration with the industry and working with operators on positive player friendly strategies that look to prevent harm by engaging and educating consumers as opposed to retrospectively acting on negative behaviours.
I am extremely proud of the work we have achieved over the past four years and although not perfect the voluntary RET system put in place some fantastic services. I genuinely hope the levy is a success as it is all about the outcomes for its beneficiaries. However, I think that as an industry it is imperative that we don’t just sign the cheques and wave the money goodbye but apply the right amount of scrutiny to ensure the funding is being put to the best possible use. At Better Change we will continue to make the gambling industry a better place to work and play and we can’t wait to work with you in 2025. Have a great year.
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.
24 JANUARY 2025
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