According to a report, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the industry organization representing the UK gaming and betting sector, is under scrutiny for its management of information. The criticism comes as BGC’s CEO, Michael Dugher, is set to testify before MPs as part of the government’s proposal to overhaul gambling legislation in the country.
Lord Foster, a Liberal Democrat peer, has expressed reservations about the BGC’s information, notably the findings of a study published earlier this year. The study looked at the impact of the illegal gambling market in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup.
Lord Foster claims that the BGC misrepresented the study, despite the fact that the full report by gambling analysis firm Yield Sec was not made public. According to a copy of the study seen by The Guardian, the rise in clients visiting black market operators amounted for only 1% of total gambling expenditure during the World Cup. Furthermore, the research classified the influence of the unregulated sector as “low.”
The BGC has also been chastised for perceived contradictions in its stance on a mandated fee on gambling operators to fund gambling addiction treatment, education, and research. While the Council previously supported the levy, Dugher described it as a “big step backwards” for the industry last year.
Lord Foster believes that rather than forsaking greater sector regulation, competent enforcement to interrupt the operations of black market sites is the key to combatting the unlawful gaming market. He disputes the correctness of the BGC’s representation, emphasizing the importance of effective efforts to solve the issue.
The BGC’s criticism comes at a time when the UK’s regulated gambling market is undergoing significant changes. The Gambling Act is being reviewed in order to enhance laws, adapt them to the digital age, and handle the rise and expansion of the online gambling and betting business.
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