BGC says its members in support of mandatory RET levy
Following reports of a mandatory RET levy being included in the upcoming white paper, the trade body states its members want the funds raised to be distributed independently
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has said its members would support the proposed mandatory research, education and treatment (RET) levy.
This announcement follows reports over the weekend that the levy will be included in the forthcoming white paper into the Gambling Act 2005 review.
The trade body stated that over the last two decades, its members have donated millions of pounds via a voluntary levy, with its top four members pledging an additional £110m in 2019. The funds were distributed by the independent charity GambleAware.
The new levy will be subject to a consultation process administered by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
Although, for the BGC’s members to be in support of the levy, the government must guarantee that it is “independent and tiered to protect land-based operators”.
In addition, a new RET system should also directly support “an independent network of charities which treats around 85% of all problem gamblers receiving treatment in the UK”.
Michael Dugher, CEO of the BGC, said: “What’s important now is that the money goes to helping the tiny minority of people who need it, not wasted on the cottage industry of anti-gambling prohibitionists, masquerading their biased work as ‘research’.”
In reports of the weekend by The Daily Mail, a government source commented that the white paper will be the most comprehensive review of betting law in the UK and that it will aim to give people the freedom and choice to gamble responsibly.
On the proposed levy, the government source said: “A new statutory levy could directly fund the NHS to expand treatment services for gambling addiction to ensure people have access to the services they need, when and where they need them.
“Many researchers will not accept voluntary funding from industry. The independence of research funded by it has been called into question. The levy would therefore provide long-term, reliable funding, including for the NHS.”
The newspaper report went on to say that the levy could cause rifts in government as when current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was chancellor, he objected to the levy.
The white paper is expected to be published in the coming weeks following multiple delays over the last year or so mainly due to prolonged disruption at Westminster.