BISL’s Chairman and CEO to make joint appearance at ICE

Chris Bell, the former CEO of Ladbrokes, and Simon Johnson, who most recently served as the COO for England’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, will be joined by Praesepe CEO, Nick Harding, who will be Chairing a meeting of BISL’s influential Gambling Working Group at ICE.

Previewing BISL’s attendance Simon Johnson said: “ICE is an industry leading exhibition which provides an ideal opportunity for the executive team to meet with existing members and of course with companies and organisations, including trade bodies, who want to contribute to the strategic arguments we are taking to government on issues such as MGD and the Triennial Review.”

“ICE allows us to showcase the industry at its innovative best and we will be taking the opportunity to host members of the All Party Parliamentary Leisure Group at show in order to explain the key issues that our members are facing and to showcase what is a vibrant, dynamic and socially responsible industry which contributes on so many levels to UK,” he added.
 
With reference to the Triennial Review, Simon Johnson is urging the gambling sector to adopt a unified approach. He explained: “BISL’s position is the industry must approach the Triennial in a unified way.  We believe there should be one, common and united submission to the Government on behalf of the entire gambling industry.  A working group should be set up involving a representative from each trade body and BISL, with the aim of moving to meet the Government’s January deadline with common ground. BISL has already submitted this position to the Association of British Bookmakers and will be advocating it to other trade bodies between now and January’s deadline.”
 
Nick Harding, CEO of Praesepe, believes the Gambling Working Group meeting will be one of the most important on record.  He stated: “Top of the agenda will be MGD and we are delighted to be able to call on Gavin West from Ernst & Young to provide expert opinion both on MGD and the recent decision from the European Court of Justice on bingo and gaming machine VAT reclaims.”

“The industry has still not received details from the Treasury on the actual rates for two classes of MGD and we of course support the moves to take SWP games out of the ambit of MGD.  The very real fear is that MGD could well unravel the effects of the changes to B3 stakes and prizes. Our meeting at ICE will discuss these key issues and set out BISL’s vision for 2012,”he concluded.