RGSB rebrands as UKGC “reminds bookmakers of responsibilities”
New-look Advisory Board aims for operator-led approach to addressing problem gambling
The UK’s Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB) will now be known as the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG), as the Gambling Commission looks to focus in on safer gambling initiatives.
The ABSG, which is made up of independent advisors, provides advice to the Gambling Commission (UKGC) in the areas of research, education and treatment, with the aim of developing a nationally-funded problem gambling strategy.
UKGC CEO Neil McArthur said the shift from responsible gambling to safer gambling was in part to emphasise “that there is a clear onus on gambling operators to protect their customers”.
The move comes ahead of the new National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, which will be launched later this month. Dr Anna van der Gaag officially takes over as chair of the ABSG today, replacing outgoing chair Sir Christopher Kelly, who leaves after six years in the role.
Paying tribute to the departing Kelly, van der Gaag hailed his “tremendous leadership”, adding that this was an “exciting time of change” for the ABSG. “Our new name reflects the need for greater clarity about everyone’s roles in the delivery of the new strategy,” van der Gaag added.
Releasing its report for the prior three-year national strategy, the RGSB hailed the progress being made on making gambling-related harm a public health issue, adding that “meaningful” work has started to better understand and measure gambling-related harms.
The RGSB said there had been a “significant shift” away from focusing on the promotion of responsible gambling and further towards addressing the “powerful influence” that product design, the environment and other factors can play in gambling related harm.
The UKGC also confirmed it has written to bookmakers to “remind them of their responsibilities” following the imposition of mandatory stake cuts on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs), which came into force today.
Referencing a potential shift of FOBT customers into the online gambling world, McArthur said it was imperative that operators “invest in and use data, technology and measures to identify harmful play and can step in to protect players when needed.”
“They [operators] should be innovating to protect their customers, as much as they do to make a profit,” McArthur added.