Tag: Western Europe

Data released following this year’s event – which ran from October 17 to 23 – has revealed a 21 per cent increase on 2021, when Safer Gambling Week messaging was displayed on major social media sites 25 million times.

The initiative, which ran for the fifth year, also saw tens of thousands of visits to the Safer Gambling Week website where people can access support and information about safer gambling tools.

A large number of cross-party senior MPs and peers – including gambling minister Damian Collins MP and several shadow ministers including the Shadow Gambling Minister Alex Davies Jones MP – also gave their backing to the ground-breaking campaign.

Among the well-known sporting figures to support Safer Gambling Week 2022 were former football manager Harry Redknapp and former Celtic striker John Hartson, who both recorded videos promoting safer betting.

The aim of Safer Gambling Week is to kickstart a national conversation between staff, customers and their friends and family, about safer gambling, as well as highlight the range of tools that are available to help people stay in control of their betting.

Latest figures from the Gambling Commission show the rate of problem gambling was 0.2 per cent of the adult population – down from 0.4 per cent the year previous.

BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said: “The campaign has once again raised awareness about safer gambling and showcased increasingly popular safer gambling tools – like time-outs and deposit limits – that only exist in the regulated industry.

“Importantly, we have also once again signposted all the professional help and support services, funded by the industry, that is available to those who need it, ensuring the millions of people who enjoy a regular flutter continue to do so in a safe and responsible environment.

“But the regulated industry’s commitment to safer gambling is not just for one week of the year. It is our mission for every week of the year.

“Millions of people enjoy a bet safely and responsibly, and the falling and low rates of problem gambling suggests that the work we have done at the BGC to promote safer gambling is having an impact.”

Every month 22.5million adults place a bet, and a growing number now at 20 per cent – around 4.5m – use safer gambling tools like time-outs and deposit limits.

The Safer Gambling Week campaign, organised by the Betting and Gaming Council, BACTA and the Bingo Association saw a blitz of safer gambling messages both online and in land-based venues, aiming to spark a nationwide conversation about betting responsibly.

EGR also hosted a Safer Gambling Forum which provided an opportunity for industry to share knowledge and best practice on their work on safer gambling, alongside hearing updates from safer gambling charities. The forum featured speakers from Kindred, Focal Research, GamCare, YGAM and Betknowmore.

Bacta has unveiled its supporting sponsors for its three flagship events of 2022. The organisations’ invaluable support will help make bacta’s Social Responsibility Exchange (22 November), Annual Convention (23 November) and Parliamentary Reception (23 November) possible.

Social Responsibility Exchange – sponsor Claratus Commercial Finance

Bacta will host its annual Social Responsibility Exchange at the County Hall in London on Thursday 22nd November. The event will provide members with an opportunity to share best practice tactics and strategies around Social Responsibility.

The event will be introduced by Elizabeth Speech, chair of bacta’s Social Responsibility Committee. YGAM and GamCare will also be speaking at the event alongside Social Responsibility updates from the Gambling Commission.

Claratus Commercial Finance provides clear, fair and effective finance to small and medium businesses in the UK and are specialists in the Gaming, Amusement & Leisure sectors.

Claratus can assist with the purchases of new and used machines on finance to spread the cost and protect cash-flow. Claratus can also review existing facilities, refinance higher-cost debt or provide working capital for various purposes as well as business loans all at competitive rates.

Simon Clarke, Director of Claratus, said: “As a fair and responsible finance provider with a long term commitment to the industry, we are delighted to support bacta’s Social Responsibility Exchange, which will prove to be a vital event in the industry’s calendar and one which addresses such an important issue.”

Bacta’s Annual Convention – sponsor Novomatic

Bacta will hold its Annual Convention at County Hall, London.  In a programme packed with top drawer speakers from politics, business and the wider tourism and gambling sectors, the event provides the focus of industry discussion around the gambling White Paper, tourism, and the future of pubs and clubs.  Following an address from the Gambling Minister, a panel of MPs will debate the future of the industry.  The day concludes with a keynote speech from serial entrepreneur, Luke Johnson.

Kevin Temple, Director of Sales, Novomatic, said: “As a long-term supporter and member of bacta we are pleased to be backing bacta’s annual convention this year.  It has a relevant and exciting programme for the whole industry.”

Bacta’s Parliamentary Reception – sponsor Blueprint Operations

Following the Convention in the Houses of Parliament on 23 November. Bacta will also announce the winner of its 2022 awards, which celebrate the very best of the sector. The awards recognise those who have made a unique impact in the industry during the past 12 months, with categories including High Street Hero, Seaside Saviour, Supply Chain Champion, Green Giants and Rising Star.

The judges of the awards include MPs, and the leaders of the Betting and Gaming Council, Brigid Simmonds OBE, UK Hospitality, Kate Nicholls OBE, and bacta CEO John White as well as bacta President, Greg Wood. Potential entrants can apply for the awards on bacta’s website and entries will close next Monday 31^st October.

The Event allows the industry to showcase to MPs just some of the entertainment provided by the sector to millions of their constituents each year.  The winner of bacta’s MP seaside selfie competition winner will also be announced.

David Purvis, Managing Director of Blueprint Operations, said: “As a bacta member and supporter, we are delighted to be supporting bacta’s parliamentary reception. Engagement with parliamentarians is at the core of bacta’s mission and we expect the reception to be a great success.”

Bacta CEO, John White thanked all the sponsors of the November events: “I want to say a massive thank you to Claratus, Novomatic and Blueprint for the extremally generous support they have provided.  It is testament both to them and to the industry of which they are part that we have members who recognise the value of what we do and were quick to support us.”

Bacta has opened nominations for its first ever awards, celebrating the very best of the sector and unveiling a new set of industry champions from across the UK. The awards celebrate those who have made a great impact in the industry during the past 12 months, with categories including High Street Hero, Seaside Saviour, Supply Chain Champion, Green Giants and Rising Star.

The judges of the awards include bacta CEO John White and bacta President, Greg Wood, amongst others. The criteria the entrants will be judged on includes, creativity, upholding bacta’s values, commitment to customer wellbeing and being a team player (full details below). The winners will be unveiled at bacta’s parliamentary reception on Wednesday 24 November. Potential entrants can apply for the awards on bacta’s website and entries will be closed next Monday at close of play.

Award Categories Descriptions

High Street Hero: This award celebrates the outstanding staff members working in AGCs, High Street Bingo or inland FECs that have gone beyond the call of duty either at work or through their community engagement (which we would weigh more highly).

Seaside Saviour: This award celebrates the outstanding staff members working in FECs at the seaside that have gone beyond the call of duty either at work or through their community engagement (which we would weigh more highly).

Supply Chain Champion: This award celebrates the outstanding staff working in the supply chain and who play a vital role in helping to deliver fun and entertainment to communities across the country.

Jimmy Thomas Rising Star Award: This award aims to find the best and brightest young members (under 30) in the industry shining a light on the future leaders of the industry.

Green Giants: This award aims to find the individual or business that has shown an outstanding commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and promoting sustainability in the workplace.

Entries will be judged in line with the following criteria:

• Creativity: How the nominee has adopted a creative approach to their job (for example, looking at creative new solutions to everyday challenges) in the workplace?
• Upholding bacta’s values: How has this nominee upheld bacta’s core values (ethical, sustainable, modern, professional, partnering and open and transparent) in the workplace?
• Commitment to customer wellbeing: How has this nominee gone above and beyond to ensure that customer wellbeing is at the heart of their work (for example helping a customer who may be showing signs of problem gambling)?
• Team player: How has this nominee supported their colleagues in the place of work (for example offering to cover extra shifts, being a friendly and helpful face in the workplace)?
• Community spirit: How has this nominee worked to support their wider community through getting involved in activities such as mentoring, volunteering and fundraising for local causes?

John White, CEO of Bacta, said: “We are pleased to announce that entries for our inaugural 2022 awards are now open. Our industry has faced extremely tough times of late and we want to celebrate some of the hitherto unrecognised champions across the UK. For bacta, it’s more important than ever to be a team player, show community spirit and have a commitment to customer wellbeing.”

Clarion Gaming is utilising the reach and influence of its in-house media channels to support Safer Gambling Week which is being marked in the UK across 17th – 23rd October. A mix of news, interviews, analysis and thought leadership has been curated by Clarion’s content team to explore the latest updates and thinking with regards to safer gambling. 

The programme includes a case-study on Paf, the local government owned operator in the Nordics which has implemented a range of Responsible Gambling (RG) rules, an examination of how friction in payments can be used to make players think twice about potentially harmful activities, a look at Kindred’s aim to achieve zero harmful gambling revenue, analysis of the RG tools that are available in retail betting and a data-led dashboard which dives into UK gambling harm statistics.

Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter underlined the central importance of safer gambling and how it is being promoted. He stated: “Safer Gambling Week is in its fifth year and has done an excellent job in driving awareness of the work being undertaken by gambling brands to reduce the incidence of problem gambling.

“The campaign metrics announced by the organisers are extremely positive in terms of social media impressions and sessions on the campaign website and we are working to do what we can to provide safer gambling with a platform using channels such as ICE365 and the iGB site as well as at our live events, notably the ICE London Consumer Protection Zone which has become one of the most important features on the show floor.”

He added: “Safer Gambling is important across every international jurisdiction and once again ICE will be hosting many of the world’s leading regulators and strategic bodies at ExCeL London in February.”

World Pool betting on the day available in 20 countries

QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot, the most valuable day’s horseracing in Britain, will enjoy unprecedented television exposure around the world on Saturday – with the season finale, featuring the world’s best racehorse Baaeed, available to watch in 150 territories.

With £4million in prize money up for grabs, and six world-class races, QIPCO British Champions Day is the Ultimate Raceday and will see the best horses, trainers and jockeys step out onto the hallowed turf for one final, thrilling showdown.

British Champions Series, working with Racecourse Media Group and its agency HBA Media, is delighted to have secured eight new broadcasters for 2022, including in previously uncharted territories such as India, South-East Asia, Scandinavia, Baltics, Western Europe, Eurasia, and China.

Thirty networks will showcase the day in every major continent, including some of the biggest names in sports broadcasting, such as Fox Sports (US), ESPN / Star+ in Latin America, SuperSport in Africa, Sony in India and the subcontinent, and Viaplay in Europe.

The race-day will also enjoy a sizeable shop window in Asia via Green Channel in Japan, and TVB, Cable TV, Now TV and the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s platforms in Hong Kong. Fourteen territories in Southeast Asia will be served courtesy of SPOTV, the OTT arm of Eclat (a full list of broadcasters is in the Notes to Editors).

Rod Street, Chief Executive of British Champions Series said, “Ahead of its 12th running, QIPCO British Champions Day has established itself as one of the world’s most prestigious race meetings, which includes four Group One races. We are delighted that its global broadcast reach continues to grow and that millions of viewers around the planet will enjoy some of the finest horseracing in the world.”

QIPCO British Champions Day will also be the focus of the betting world, with it being a World Pool event for the third year. Created by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, World Pool is a collaboration of over 20 pool betting operators from around the globe. The result is huge liquidity, and a multi-million pound betting experience for racing fans. World Pool is proving increasingly popular and generates a significant financial return for the best global racing.

Not only does World Pool help further internationalise the sport and shine the global spotlight on participating racecourses, but it also generates critical betting revenue and increased media rights for the underlying racing industry.

Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote Group, said: “We’re delighted that QIPCO British Champions Day is a World Pool event for the third year and the cooperation between the UK Tote, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Racecourse Media Group and Ascot Racecourse will once again ensure Tote customers benefit from a unique and exciting betting experience. Our recent innovations in the UK include Tote Guarantee and Tote+ which, when combined with the huge pools created by World Pool, have resulted in market leading value for racing fans. We very much hope all those passionate about the future of British racing will get behind the Tote offering, drive a strong pool and help showcase the sport on the global stage.”