BETTER CHANGE


unfortunately good news doesn’t make the headlines and despite evidence to the contrary, the gambling industry still struggles with its public image. Bad news still seems to stick regardless of how factual it is with figures on the prevalence of gambling harm regularly misquoted and figures blown out of proportion. A recent survey in the UK estimated a possible 10 million people at risk and the debate around the level of gambling related suicide, rages on despite the fact we know that the methodology that led us to the quoted numbers was flawed. The rumours of huge tax increases on the UK market wiped millions off the share prices of operators in October but there will be no consequences for the perpetrators of these rumours because it seems that if you want to take a swipe at the gambling industry you get a free hit. More worrying is how the government and regulators then buckle to the public pressure to impose punitive restrictions that provide greater opportunities for unregulated gambling to thrive.


Upholding the regulated industry is paramount to safer gambling as it is the regulated market that will practise it. It is the regulated market that will provide 1,000’s of jobs and it is the regulated market that will contribute billions to the economy. Governments and regulators around the world would do well to be reminded of that.


GAMBLING OPERATORS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. In many cases talk of safer gambling has gone quiet because the industry are just getting on with it. Long gone are the days when player protection was an added-on responsibility to someone working in compliance. Now we have hundreds of professionals employed by gambling operators where safer gambling is their focus day in, day out. The level of expertise has grown massively in the past 3-5 years and it is great to see people with such a passion for player protection having a stronger influence within their organisations. The bar has not just been raised it has been launched through the roof and is now floating in orbit! We have evolved from raising awareness of what can go wrong to formulating business strategies that engage with players in an effort to prevent harm from taking place.


THE SAFER GAMBLING SECTOR GREW TOO MUCH.


Supply needs to match demand, despite the reports of inflated numbers at risk of harm, support services are not at capacity. Effective prevention work, the development of blocking software, the support of banks by


20 NOVEMBER 2024


Our aim should be to have customers playing safely in a well-regulated market as opposed to simply trying to reduce the level of gambling consumption


providing financial management tools and self–exclusion programmes are a successful resource for many who wish to address their gambling behaviour, leaving a small minority that need a more immersive intervention, even then the accessibility of talking therapies online and innovative self-help apps further still reduce the number at the sharp end. The UK is looking to introduce a mandatory levy to fund research, prevention and treatment of gambling harm as an output of the recent gambling act review. It is estimated that this could raise upwards of £80million pound a year with the lion share being directed towards treatment. You have to ask the question why? What will the extra money be spent on if the current provision of services are not at capacity?


POLITICS, POLITICS AND MORE POLITICS!


As I have stated many times before, nobody should be excluded from the combined effort to tackle gambling harm yet we continue to see parties state who should and shouldn’t receive clients for treatment, favouritism towards certain providers of services such as blocking software, self- exclusion programmes and educational tools and a threat of consequence if a service provider is seen to be funded or collaborating with the industry. This has led to a reduction of 3rd sector organisations in particular attending events and contributing to the discussion around tackling harm for fear of retribution such as the loss of funding. It is very sad as collectively there is an amazing resource of knowledge and this squabbling in no way benefits the end user who we are all supposed to be here for.


HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? Safer gambling going forward has to do a couple of things. For starters it should no longer be acceptable to request that the industry or government throw endless millions at safer gambling without a clear


rational as to why, backed up by a solid evidence base of the scale of the problem. It is no longer enough to just say it is the right thing to do and if there is a plan to use public money to fund this, as is proposed in the UK this will be scrutinised. Secondly any safer gambling initiative or service will need to engage with the customer as it is they who will use it; our aim should be to have customers playing safely in a well-regulated market as opposed to simply trying to reduce the level of gambling consumption, creating an environment where Positive Play can thrive is good for business and good for the consumer as we are looking to reduce instead of increase the stigma around gambling, making it less difficult for people to seek support should they need it. Finally, if you provide a service to the industry whether that be in safer gambling or otherwise you are part of the industry and we should work collectively to fight the prejudice and misinformation that continues to plague it. It is a great industry to work in and one that I am proud to be a part of, one where people from all walks of life can build great careers in a wide variety of roles.


I look forward to working with you all on moving this forward but for now I will leave it here, I need to provide proof of income documents to my barista before I can purchase a third coffee! Play Positively!


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.


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