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Gaming industry organisations join forces to change law
A new, international pressure group has been formed from nearly 30 gaming industry organisations to lobby the government on the economic benefits of modernising Britain’s gambling regulations.
The group has been formed due to worries that potential new legislation will be delayed, which could be "highly damaging" to all concerned within the gaming industry.
Called the Cross-Industry Group for Gaming Deregulation, a letter has been sent to every member of parliament, explaining all the benefits that deregulation could bring.
These benefits include the possible creation of 50,000 new jobs across the UK and around £1.7bn worth of inward investment that overseas companies are currently considering.
The gaming industry estimates that it already contributes around £1.4bn per annum to the treasury while it also state that the government could receive an extra "minimum exchequer benefit" of £350m each year.
The group is co-ordinated by the chief executive of Gala, John Kelly, alongside other UK companies including Rank, Luminar and Leisure Link with international organisations involved including France’s Accor Casinos and America’s Capri Casinos.
If the deregulation and modernisation of the gambling laws were to take place, the current advertising ban could be lifted along with the outdated 24-hour membership policy, where a person can’t enter a casino unless they’ve joined 24 hours beforehand.
In return, the gaming industry has promised to attempt to tackle problem gambling, with a £3m charitable trust already established to help those addicted to gambling. Details: www.culture.gov.uk