UK operators to establish responsible gaming committee

The committee features UK’s leading operators and will make recommendations about the deployment of funding for safer gambling initiatives.

UK.- Five of UK’s biggest betting and gambling companies have announced the creation of a new committee. They will recommend the deployment of funding for safer gambling initiatives. The committee features bet365, Flutter Entertainment (owner of Paddy Power and Betfair), GVC, Sky Betting and Gaming, and William Hill.

The UK operators revealed that they have asked Lord Chadlington, a vocal campaigner on safer gambling, to chair an independent committee that will recommend how best to administer funds committed to safer gambling initiatives, including the treatment of problem gambling. They also said that more announcements will come in September.

A spokesperson for the five companies commented: “We are absolutely committed to providing further funding toward treatment and other responsible gambling initiatives, and we believe the committee will identify and recommend how best to deploy effectively this investment. We believe this is an important step towards creating a safer gambling environment. We look forward to reviewing and implementing its recommendations later this year.”

Lord Chadlington said: “The committee will consult widely to formulate its recommendations taking account in particular of the views of government, regulators, the third sector, gambling operators and those with lived experience. I am happy to accept the invitation to chair this committee particularly as the five gambling companies show commitment to implementing any reasonable recommendations it may make. I will announce the membership of the committee by mid-September.”

Previous commitment

Last month, the companies revealed that they will invest €67 million a year to take action. The money will fund treatment for problem gamblers in order to mitigate their potential negative impact.

The money will go to state coffers through a voluntary levy, currently set at 0.1% of their profits. They will progressively increase it until it gets set at 1% by 2023. Furthermore, they have committed to spend an extra €111.8 million on addiction treatment. They’ll aid health organisations and work alongside them to determine where to send the money and act.