Bacta names Simon Bradbury as head of social responsibility and compliance
The gaming hall trade body has held its 6th Social Responsibility Exchange.
UK.- The UK retail gambling trade association Bacta has named Simon Bradbury as its new head of social responsibility and compliance. Appointed via internal promotion, Bradbury will continue to work with Bacta’s membership support officers (MSOs) while reporting directly to the trade body’s commercial executive director Robert Gibb, who was appointed just over a year ago.
Describing the development as a reflection of the importance Bacta places on social responsibility in land-based gaming, Gibb said: “Brad will now manage the rest of the MSO team and be responsible for our Social Responsibility and Compliance initiatives. Working alongside myself he will deliver these key services to members and ensure that they remain best in class courtesy of a programme of continual review and enhancement.”
He added: “Brad has extensive experience and knowledge in delivering our frontline services as well as a real passion for social responsibility and assisting members to understand and uphold their compliance requirements and responsibilities in what is a heavily regulated sector.”
Bacta’s SR Exchange conference
As head of social responsibility and compliance, Bradbury will oversee Bacta’s SR Exchange conference, a free, open-invitation event for consumer-facing staff from gaming venues that focuses on safer gambling strategies. Last week saw a sold-out 6th SR Exchange was held in Leeds.
The event featured an address from Rob Mabbett of Better Change and insight from the Gambling Commission’s director of policy, Bryony Sheldon.
Elizabeth Speed, chair of Bacta’s Social Responsibility Committee, said of the event: “Events like the SR Exchange are a testament to the benefits of Bacta membership, showing the positive contribution that being a part of the trade association can mean for staff throughout the entirety of the business. The frontline staff that took part deal with customers on a day to day basis, and it is these people that put Bacta’s commitment to social responsibility into action.
“Throughout Bacta’s 50-year history, social responsibility has been a cornerstone of our values. Our members know that good practice means good business and the Social Responsibility Exchange is a testament to this.”
She added: “The enthusiasm for the event is palpable and we are keen to see it grow into a larger venue, with more attendees, from more members and for the SR Exchange to go from strength to strength. We look forward to holding the next edition in a different part of the country to affirm Bacta’s commitment to responsible gambling in every part of the United Kingdom. As an industry we are in the business of enjoyment and pleasure, not harm – so our members welcome these events as an opportunity to strengthen this position.”
The trade association also continues to work alongside the community of not-for-profit safer gambling organisations, which it hosts on the dedicated Bacta Safer Gambling Hub at its annual EAG Expo.
Meanwhile, researchers have told British MPs that more restrictions should be placed on land-based slots and gambling ads. At a meeting of the parliamentary Health and Social Care Committee, the researchers also made recommendations relating to the new British gambling levy.
The panel comprises Sam Chamberlain, professor of psychiatry at the University of Southampton; Heather Wardle, professor of gambling research and policy at the University of Glasgow, and Lucy Hubber, director of Public Health Nottingham. They said the government should make more restrictions and protection on land-based slots and other casino games a priority.
