RGA Demands Enactment of Statutory Levy

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) representing the online gambling industry announced Tuesday that it would urge the British Government to introduce a statutory levy to replace the current system of voluntary funding for research, education, and treatment of problem gambling, and to ensure that the National Responsible Gambling Strategy is properly funded.

The current voluntary funding system, which is overseen by GambleAware, was originally established by the gambling industry to provide finances for a range of social responsibility projects.

However, according to RGA, this system is no longer fit for purpose and this concern is presumably why the  Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) in its Consultation on proposals for changes to Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures October 2017 posed a specific question about the future of the funding of research, education, and treatment.

The RGA, whose previous position was that it was not opposed in principle to the introduction of a statutory levy, has now taken the decision to proactively seek the introduction of such a levy for which there is already a reserve power in the Gambling Act 2005. It stated that when it responds in January to the DCMS consultation it will adopt this line and propose ways in which an equitable and effective levy system could be implemented soon.

“There has been much to commend in the voluntary funding system, but if we are to combat problem gambling to the best of our ability and to minimise gambling-related harm, then now is the time for a change and for a fresh start,” RGA’s Chief Executive, Clive Hawkswood, said. “We are all disappointed that the current system has been the subject of so much criticism and has struggled with fundraising, but we need to put that behind us.”

“We have acknowledged the problem and put forward a long-term solution because we believe everyone’s efforts should now be focussed on bringing this change about,” he further added. “For the industry, this should be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat because more funding is needed if we are to fulfill our responsibilities to everyone in this country who gambles, and especially those who are affected by problem gambling.”

“A statutory levy will ensure the right funds are raised in a fair and open process and, crucially, that they are allocated in a way that is transparent, independent, and achieves measurable benefits.” He concluded