William Hill CEO: Industry progress on safer gambling “ignored” by press
Philip Bowcock says overregulation will increase risk of punters moving to the black market
William Hill CEO Philip Bowcock has hit back at the mainstream UK media for “ignoring” the progress being made on safer gambling by online operators.
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Bowcock said William Hill was engaged in a “continual process” of strengthening its internal processes and evolving its approach to safer gambling.
“Unfortunately, it suits some to ignore the strong progress being made,” Bowcock added.
Bowcock said the use of technology to track player activity, together with Hills’ ‘Nobody Harmed by Gambling’ commitment, had made gambling online safer for players.
The chief executive also highlighted the recent funding commitment made by the UK’s five biggest bookmakers to increase levels of funding for problem gambling treatment to 1% of their respective gross gambling yield over the next five years.
“The regulatory focus should now be on the long tail of operators to ensure they match these standards” Bowcock added.
Hill was also the subject of a Times article on Saturday that claimed a £70 free bet with the operator “cost” £2,400 due to bonusing requirements.
The operator also confirmed last week it would close over 700 betting shops in the UK at a cost of 4,500 jobs. The operator blamed the recent crackdown on FOBT’s as being a key factor in the closures.
Many within the industry have suggested a similar FOBT-style clampdown could take place targeting online slots and table games, but Bowcock argued such restrictions would ultimately push players towards illegal online gambling sites
“Regulation is a good thing but the balance that has to be struck is between keeping people in a safe environment and driving them to offshore and unregulated environments – a very real risk if restrictions are too draconian,” Bowcock added.
Peter Murray, head of gaming at Alexem services said the industry needs to “engage more effectively with our critics” if it hopes to head off the tide of negative criticism and the push for tighter regulation.
Murray believes this can be achieved by continuing investment in RG and sustainability and by “showing a genuine intention to put the customer first and to change the tone and the intent of its messaging and presenting independent evidence that the initiatives employed are working.”
The above topics, and more, will be discussed at the EGR UK Summit later this year.