UKGC’s independent advisory board renamed

The RGSB has been renamed as the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG).

UK.- The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has reported that ahead of the publication of the new National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB), has been renamed as the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG).

The ABSG is set to provide independent advice to the Commission as it works to implement the new strategy over the next three years and ensure progress is made on reducing gambling harms. The ABSG provides independent advice to the Gambling Commission on research, education and treatment programmes needed to support a national gambling strategy and associated funding requirements.

Anna van der Gaag, who has taken over the position of chair from Sir Christopher Kelly, said: “Our new name reflects the need for greater clarity about everyone’s roles in the delivery of the new strategy. Gambling harms are rightly recognised as a public health issue and I welcome the Gambling Commission’s new strategy with its strong focus on both prevention and treatment.

“As the ABSG, we will be bringing a renewed focus on the safety of consumers and prevention of harm, helping to ensure consumers are free from the consequences of gambling harms, that research priorities are high up the Commission’s agenda, and that we are listening and working closely with all our partners.”

Neil McArthur, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, added: “We need to shift the focus from ‘responsible gambling’ to ‘safer gambling’. Responsible gambling suggests that the individual customer is principally in charge of keeping themselves safe. By focusing on safer gambling we want to emphasise that there is a clear onus on gambling operators to protect their customers.”