The organization said the move had been "catastrophic" for the industry, whilst Chairman Nick Harding claimed that the social fabric of gaming was at stake. He added that because of the current climate, people with people shifting from softer gambling venues to those where harder forms of gambling were available.
“The corollary of this must be a potential increase in problem gambling rates," Harding stated. "This is an outcome nobody wants, and is the exact opposite of the objectives of the Gambling Act.”
Figures provided by BACTA say job losses since the act came into force are "into the hundreds", while its average member has lost 21 per cent of their income. A response from the DCMS cited in the Financial Times said that it would be unusual for the government to revisit a new piece of legislation so soon after implementation.