Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association launches new charitable foundation
Gibraltar Gambling Care Foundation nets £2.5m in funding from locally licensed operators
The Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) has confirmed the launch of a new registered charity, Gibraltar Gambling Care Foundation (GGCF), which aims to protect at-risk players.
The GGCF will operate on an independent basis under the guidance of Gibraltar investment bank director Stephen Reyes and BDO Gibraltar’s Selvan Soobiah, as well as Belvedere Trustees Limited.
In its infancy, the GGCF will predominantly fund research that will take place at the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming (CERG) that is being set up by the University of Gibraltar.
It is understood that £2.5m in seed funding has been received to fund the setting up of CERG and provide for its funding needs for the next three years.
CERG researchers will use the funding to investigate the impact of problem gambling on individuals, the prevalence of gambling addiction as well as practical solutions that gambling operators can implement to minimise the harm associated with problem gambling.
It will also look to standardised identification, monitoring and measuring criteria for problem gambling and responsible gambling measures implemented to avoid problem gambling.
The final objective the GGCF has said will be to fund the creation, co-ordination and management of a database of online gaming industry information that can assist with research into problem gambling and responsible and safer gambling measures.
The GBGA, via the GGCF will be supporting the creation of a research programme aimed at exploring solutions to minimise gambling-related harm and the creation of open-source databases for academic studies.
“This is a pivotal step change for all Gibraltar-licensed operators and the jurisdiction as a whole,” GBGA chairman Nigel Birrell said.
“On behalf of the GBGA I would also like to thank the government of Gibraltar and in particular the Minister for Gaming Albert Isola and the gambling regulator Andrew Lyman for their unwavering support and also Peter Montegriffo of Hassans for his assistance in establishing the foundation,” Birrell added.