BGC’s Hurst supports industry, slams “prohibitionist crusade”
Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), recently wrote an article for PoliticsHome, which was then published on the BGC website. In the article, Hurst, who was appointed CEO of the BGC last September, addresses a number of key industry topics.
Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross recently spoke to more than 150 members at the BGC’s annual general meeting. Essentially, Hurst echoed the minister, highlighting the value of the gambling industry whilst drawing attention to some of the most significant threats it’s currently facing.
Financial contribution to UK economy
Hurst highlights the valuable financial contributions of the BGC’s members to the wider British economy. BGC members alone “contribute £6.8bn to the economy” each year and “generate £4bn in tax while supporting 109,000 jobs”.
These figures show the extent of the gambling industry’s contribution to the UK as a whole, and the figures don’t include non-BGC member organisations which make up 10% of the industry.
The industry is undervalued and often given a bad rap. However, the numbers don’t lie – gambling contributes significantly to the government’s coffers.
Cheltenham Festival
The much-loved (and massively well-attended) Cheltenham Festival, which took place shortly after the BGC’s annual general meeting, was cited by Hurst as an example of how local economies benefit.
Both Hurst and Baroness Twycross, in her original speech, highlighted the value of gambling as a leisure pursuit too.
“You won’t see a truer example of the unbridled joy a ‘day at the races’ brings than at the Cheltenham Festival,” said Hurst.
This legendary event draws huge numbers of people and attracts impressive viewing figures. A study by the University of Gloucestershire found that the Cheltenham Festival attracts 250,000 spectators and is worth £274m to the region.
Cheltenham is an example of the value of individual gambling-related events to specific regions. Hurst and Twycross both illustrate the value of the industry on different levels, not overlooking the recreational value of gambling, which is “enjoyed safely by millions”.
The anti-gambling lobby
Having laid out the benefits of the gambling industry, Hurst targeted anti-gambling lobbyists. She talked about the “misguided convictions of the anti-gambling lobby”.
Hurst’s words are strong, and some will consider them harsh. However, it is true that misinformation has skewed perspectives and hindered the ability of the usually rational to take a balanced stance.
The “prohibitionist crusade” of anti-gambling groups is irrational and absurd, not to mention an encroachment on individual freedom. For this reason, Hurst’s lampooning of these groups is welcomed.
Other examples of ill-informed declarations can even come from academics who should know better, such as those at Bristol University who published a weak and arguably biased report last September.
Informed and sensible discussions of gambling legislation should be encouraged; the blind pursuit of extreme and fundamental agendas should be taken for what they are.
The ‘horseracing sceptic’ MP
Referring back to the speech given by Baroness Twycross, Hurst addressed one vocal MP, Alex Ballinger (Labour, Halesowen), a self-described “horseracing sceptic” who attempted to make the case that “gambling is not symbiotic with sport”.
Ballinger stated that: “We no longer allow fast food companies to align themselves with sport, and we should treat gambling companies in precisely the same way.”
Hurst counters this, pointing out the co-dependent relationship between sport and gambling. She writes that horseracing “is directly funded by BGC members, who annually pour £350m into the sport via sponsorship, media rights and the levy”.
Referring to Ballinger’s approach as “snobbery”, Hurst restates a few vital statistics to illustrate the chasm between the number of UK adults who enjoy gambling on a regular basis (around 22.5 million), and problem gambling rates (around 0.4%).
Again, Hurst’s words are strong, but justified within the context of her argument.
The rise of the black market
In addition to the threat of anti-gambling groups, Hurst drew attention to the “rising menace of the gambling black market”.
Illegal gambling is on the rise, and it can affect economies, operators, and players in devastating ways. Also, the Gambling Commission (UKGC) seems unwilling to learn from other regulators around the world, instead recklessly tightening regulations.
The BGC has more reason than most to be concerned about this trend, with its members directly losing out to illegal casinos. It is therefore unsurprising that Hurst dedicates a significant portion of her article to addressing it.
Hurst cited a recent Racing Post survey, which found that more than “one in three high-staking bettors admitted using illegal bookies in the past year”. One BGC-commissioned independent study found that Brits staked £4.3 billion on the black market.
These statistics are alarming, and supported by other reports. For instance, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities recently found that traffic to 22 unregulated sites had increased by 522%.
Concluding her discussion of the threat posed by the black market, Hurst restated that the best deterrent is “balanced regulation”, citing other heavily-regulated countries whose legitimate industries had suffered due to overregulation.
Conclusion
Hurst, who is relatively new to her role as CEO of the BGC, is likely to make waves with her strong stance against anti-gambling groups and outspoken support of the industry.
The gambling industry gets plenty of bad press, so it’s refreshing to have someone so plainly state its benefits. Hurst does a great job of clarifying the importance of gambling for the British economy and culture.
As strong as her wording is, Hurst’s sentiment is rooted in responsibility, rationality and nuance, which is more than can be said for the industry’s opponents, or even for the UKGC at this point.
Hopefully the UKGC will take note of the points made by Baroness Twycross and Grainne Hurst, and work with the BGC towards a more balanced approach to regulation, so that players aren’t driven to black market sites.
Hurst rounds off her article with a clear call for “balanced, evidence-based regulations” and another mention of the value that gambling has to “the economy, to jobs, but also to people’s joy”.
