Socially Responsible Gambling Industry

The UK gambling industry’s support for problem gamblers is unique and in social responsibility terms eclipses that of both the drinks and retail industries, according to Geoffrey Godbold, CEO of the GREaT Foundation, formerly the Responsibility in Gambling Trust.

Speaking at the AGM of the Remote Gambling Association Mr Godbold urged the industry to ‘blow its own trumpet more’  in terms of  the work operators have undertaken of their own volition to counter problem gambling over the last 10 years.

He said: “This is one area where the gambling industry is unique.  The drinks industry doesn’t look after its problem drinkers and the retail industry doesn’t look after problem shoppers.The gambling industry has funded, set-up and run the whole operation for problem gamblers.”

On another note the UK’s Labour government has been labelled vindictive and out of touch with its working class roots during a Parliamentary debate on bingo taxation. The blistering attack from Tory MP Philip Davies came when he questioned the motives behind the increase in bingo tax to 22 per cent in the last Budget. He argued that increased taxation will lead to more club closures, with 29 ceasing to trade already this year, and the consequent devasting effects felt by the communities they served.