British regulator denies northern staff accusation

The bookmaker’s watchdog denied the accusations saying it only employed one person in the north of England.

UK.- Wakefield Council’s licensing officer Dave Hollis recently accused the Gambling Commission (UKGC) of employing just one “enforcement officer” for the whole northern area of England. However, the regulator denied those accusations and said it has plenty of staff to cover the area which spans 190 miles, north to south.

During a debate about the council’s gambling policy, Hollis praised the enforcement officer that works “closely” with the county’s authorities and explained: “We do work closely with the Gambling Commission. We have an enforcement officer who is in touch with us and is always very keen to work with us. She’s very good.”

Furthermore, he stated: “The trouble is her region goes from South Yorkshire all the way up to the Scottish borders. You’ve got one Gambling Commission enforcement officer for the north of England.”

“We have 31 compliance managers in England, Wales and Scotland,” a spokesman for the Gambling Commission said in response and added: “Although nine are based in the North of England all 31 work proactively and reactively across all regions to ensure gambling is fair, safe and crime-free.”