An investigation by Guardian reporter Rob Davies has uncovered the findings of a report drafted by the the All-party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in which the group criticizes the UK gambling commission for taking measures to try to reduce addiction.
The APPG launched an investigation into the UK regulator last year following reports of alleged corruption at the gambling commission. The group which has described itself as a political go-between for the gambling industry, has refused to release the full details of this report.
However, the Guardian obtained a draft excerpt of the report revealing that the MPs have declared that the UKGC is in ‘urgent need of change’. It then goes on to state that the commission is too harsh on operators and risks the ‘destruction of one of the world’s best gambling industries’ which could push gamblers towards underground bookmakers.
The report also accuses the commission of “acting ultra vires [beyond its remit] in its strategy of seeking to significantly reduce the number of problem gamblers”.
The findings have been labeled as ludicrous by some campaigners. This is in part due to the APPG finding that tackling problem gambling is an issue and also the fact that many of the APPG’s prominent members have close ties with gambling operators and have accepted gifts from them in the past.
According to Davies these include:
- Conservative MP Scott Benton — £7,494.60 in Euro 2020 and Ascot tickets from Entain, Gamesys, and Betting and Gaming Council (BGC)
- Labour MP John Spellar — £2,835.80 in Lord’s and Euro 2020 tickets from Flutter and the BGC
- Conservative MP Aaron Bell — £6,955.60 in Euro 2020 tickets from Entain, Flutter, and Gamesys.
All of the above MPs have lobbied for the gambling industry and its operators in parliament or in the media while accepting gifts. And according to parliamentary rules, this is permitted. Bell even went so far as to state to the Guardian that he had “declared all hospitality promptly and transparently”.
Despite being named in the Guardian’s report, the BGC has reiterated that it supports the UKGC and stated that it had nothing to do with the report. Last night it tweeted:
“This report is in no way representative of the views of the BGC. We did not contribute to the report and we do not endorse the recommendations.”
Following the Guardian’s investigation, the APPG’s vice chair, Labour MP Conor McGinn revealed that he had resigned from the group last week as he had no wish to be associated with it. He stated that he had no part in writing the report and disagreed with its findings.
A spokesperson for the Gambling Commission told the Guardian:
“Some sections of the industry are never going to be content with a regulator which continually pushes for safer gambling.” They said the commission would “need time to review [the report’s] contents” and that it had not heard from the APPG before receiving it.
As the industry regulator, we expect to hear from them in an official capacity to respond to views about the Gambling Commission and put straight inaccurate assumptions, as well as share our regulatory approach.”
The APPG report following previous investigations by various independent groups and the National Audit Office that found the UKGC to be too lenient on operators.
Speaking to the Guardian, Matt Zarb-Cousin, the director of the campaign group Clean Up Gambling, said:
“It is astonishing that in the middle of a gambling review, industry-friendly MPs want to publish this ludicrous report complaining about regulation.
The growth of online gambling, and the harm associated with it, has increased exponentially under the Gambling Commission’s watch. If anything the operators should be thanking the regulator. What we need is an overhaul of regulation that empowers the Gambling Commission to ensure far more prescriptive rules, more comprehensive oversight of licensees and penalties for non-compliance.”
UPDATE: Aaron Bell has contacted the Guardian to distance himself from the report stating that he had no idea what the results of the report would be nor did he play any role in drafting it.
John Spellar has also just resigned from his position as Chairman of the APPG with immediate effect.
Guardian reporter Rob Davies recently released his book Jackpot exposing the dark underbelly of the UK gambling industry.
Jackpot is available from The Guardian Bookshop.
Olivia has worked as an editor and writer for major brands across multiple niches. She now focuses on the iGaming and sports betting industries.