The Gaming Industry in the UK is Taking its Time to Meet their RIGT Pledges

One of the upper most gambling officials in the UK indicated over last weekend that of the online gambling companies in the UK renege on their agreements to donate GBP 4 million to be used for the benefit of dealing with problem and underage gambling as a part of the Responsibility in Gambling Trust, they might have to deal with levies.

The executive was Neil Goulden, who is the CEO of Gala Coral group. Goulden told the Timesonline that because the gaming industry is failing with regard to meeting its voluntary pledges that this will probably eventually come out as their having to deal with a statutory government levy.

It was only earlier this year that the gaming industry agreed to come up with GBP 4 million to be used as charity for the benefit of the Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RiGT). It was thought that these funds would serve as the basis for setting up studies and research into gaming, all of which would by applied toward effective education and treatment for dealing with intent gambling addictions.  Up until the present time, only GBP 1.7 million has already been raised most of which came from one source being the gaming sector’s three big players: Ladbrokes, William Hill and Gala Coral.

Eahc of these three companies has agreed to contribute GBP 450 000. It has however, been decided that CEO Goulden will be issuing his warning at an upcoming industry conference that is planned to take place tomorrow and which is attended by members of the Gambling Commission as well as ministers. Goulden says that at the present time the fund is over GBP 2 million short of the previous target that was already established. He sees this as not being acceptable behavior for the industry. Goulden stresses that steps must be taken against any appearance of complacency regarding problem gambling within the online gaming industry. He pointed out that it is up to the companies to make their contributions.
Goulden also states that if the gaming industry fails in attempts to voluntarily fund RiGT, they should not be too surprised when they find themselves stuck with a statutory levy being imposed upon us. Goulden warns that such an event would reflect poorly on the industry as a whole. And the end result would probably be that many of the smaller companies would end up paying even a greater share.

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