The long-awaited "white book" review of the UK gambling law is expected to be announced in the coming months. New gambling regulations are to be included that are adapted to the new digital age. Online gambling accelerated the development of the gambling sector and the lack of restrictions acted as an incentive for consumers.
The UK gambling industry has spent over £ 100,000 (over half a million zlotys) on "freebies" in the last 6 months alone. As reported by the Daily Mail, tickets to races, cricket matches, Wimbledon, the English Euro and exclusive award ceremonies are among the benefits accorded to parliamentarians. Many of them spoke with joy in Parliament in the interests of a sector resilient to major reform.
According to reports, a total of 32 MEPs enjoyed the VIP experience at sporting events, courtesy of the gambling groups from June to December last year, including giveaways during last year's euros.
The gifts sparked accusations that companies were trying to "buy friends in Parliament" to fend off new industry restrictions.
Les six députés européens impliqués étaient membres du groupe parlementaire multi-paris et jeux (APPG), et trois d'entre eux ont mis en garde contre de nouvelles règles strictes quelques jours après avoir accepté des cadeaux.
The biggest beneficiary was the MP Tory Laurence Robertson, who advises the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) annually on sports and safer gambling for £ 200 (about a thousand zlotys) per hour. In the second half of last year, Mr. Robertson also accepted freebies worth over £ 10,000 (PLN 54.2 thousand) from bookmakers.
He and MP David Warburton accepted tickets to the Brit Awards worth a total of £ 3,492 (less than PLN 19,000) courtesy of BGC this month. Robertson was one of a dozen MEPs who took part in the England semi-final against Denmark on July 7 last year, courtesy of Ladbrokes owner Coral Entain.
Deux de ces députés, M. Robertson et son collègue conservateur Scott Benton, avaient mis en garde contre les restrictions de l'industrie lors du débat à la Chambre des communes quelques heures plus tôt.
Robertson said the tightening of regulation was "a great danger", echoing BGC's view that it would push the consumer towards the black market.
In the same debate, Labor MP John Spellar said reforms must "continue to attract the UK" as a suitable location for casinos.
Mr. Spellar received £ 1,961 (PLN 10,600) hospitality tickets for the England - Germany Euro game from Power Leisure Bukmers.
All three had previously expressed support for the industry. Benton wrote a BGC sponsored article arguing that the rules must not "hurt" the betting business.
Combat inégal
In January, a leaked APPG report criticized the gambling regulator for going beyond its mandate to reduce the number of addicts. APPG member and MP Philip Davies received almost £ 50,000 (PLN 271,000) from Entain for advising on safer gambling in 2019. Last summer, he accepted around £ 8,500 (PLN 46,000) in tickets from bookmakers.
The vice president of APPG, Aaron Bell (former Bet365 employee), courtesy of gambling companies, used tickets to matches in England worth almost 7,000 pounds (almost 38,000 PLN). He called for an industry review "to strike a balance".
M. Davies et M. Robertson ont tous deux quitté l'APPG depuis la fuite du rapport. Tous les autres membres ont refusé de commenter.
As a spokesman for BGC informs: "These acts of hospitality are in line with parliamentary rules and are fully declared and transparent."