Published: 23.04.2020, 13:36
5 min read
The UKGC has recently publicised its Business Plan for 2020/2021, in which it outlined its plan to implement an Experts by Experience. This panel would consist of various people who have been addicted to gambling at some point in their lives, or who have been impacted by other gambling-related harm. The experts’ advice would, hopefully, help the UKGC better understand the voice of consumers and ensure that the Commission is able to make fully informed decisions about new regulations. Based on the Commission’s released timeline, it is planning on establishing the panel by the 2nd quarter of the 2020/2021 fiscal year.
- The UKGC is Making Progress on Its Proposed Safer Gambling Provisions
- A Guide to the UKGC’s 2020/2021 Business Plan
Criticisms Towards the Proposed Experts Panel
Peter Hannibal, the Gambling Business Group’s chief executive, has recently given his thoughts on the matter. Hannibal criticized the proposed panel and called it a “scary” idea. In his opinion, the panel would be extremely biased since it would not contain any experts that have had positive experiences with gambling. He went on to say that the UKGC if it continues with this plan, would be advised by a group of people that is biased against gambling.
Hannibal also shared his opinion on the rest of the business plan. In an interview with InterGame, he implied that the UKGC is prioritizing the wrong areas. Hannibal stated that the UKGC’s fees will likely decrease due to the decline of gross gaming revenue. Yet, the Commission made no steps to address this scenario in its business plan.
Hannibal declared that the current pandemic would cause devastating long-term damage to the UK’s gambling industry. He seems to believe that the UKGC should have done a better job outlining a concrete plan of how it will combat this trend and raise revenue back to pre-pandemic levels.
John White, the CEO of trade association Bacta, also weighed in on the UKGC’s business plan. White stated that he would lend his support to the Experts by Experience panel as long as the Commission is careful to include people who have had a wide range of experiences. If the board is solely comprised of experts who have faced problems, then this would totally distort its outlook on gambling. The group needs to be balanced so that the UKGC is advised by a group of people that truly have varied experiences and can each bring a new perspective to the table.
Even though Hannibal and White have only recently spoken their minds on the issue, the UKGC has actually had an Experts by Experience panel in the works since April of 2019. The Commission launched its National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, which is an initiative designed to reduce gambling addiction over the course of three years. On September 23rd, 2019, the Commission called for the Strategy’s collaboration with people who have “lived experience of gambling harms.” The UKGC looked to Scotland for inspiration, as the country had implemented a similar forum within its Health and Social Care Alliance.
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What Would an Experts by Experience Panel Look Like?
The UKGC published a discussion document in the Fall of 2019, explaining what their goals are regarding the implementation of its panel of experts. At the time of publication, the Commission was anticipating working with partners who have already created forums of their own and creating Strategy Implementation Groups.
The UKGC explained that it has previously interacted with people who have experienced gambling-related harm. For instance, it has undergone consultations, workshops and events, research projects, data analysis, online forums, and more. However, the Commission highlighted the need for a more formally structured way to hear about these people’s experiences.
The Commission once again explained that it would be best for people with “lived experience” to be placed at the heart of the National Strategy. The discussion document went on to outline three principles of how they would make such an implementation.
The first principle is titled “Sustainable and Impactful”. The Commission highlighted that the Strategy must put formal and long-term structures in place to let people voice their experiences with gambling-related harm. The Strategy should also provide informal opportunities where appropriate, such as online discussion and local outreach events.
The second principle is “Diverse and Representative”. This encompasses the inclusion of people directly affected by gambling, as well as their relatives and friends who have been indirectly impacted. Furthermore, the Strategy must be sure to include underrepresented ethnic, cultural, and gender groups in panels. There should also be a wide range of harm severity represented by the panel’s members.
The third principle is Safe, Supportive Structures and Resources. Essentially, the Strategy must ensure that participants don’t face any real or perceived threats due to their participation in the panel. The Strategy must also provide training whenever necessary if it would help participants explain their experiences with gambling in a more meaningful manner. The panel must be provided with a supportive environment, and there should be procedures in place to damper arguments. There should also be ongoing support provided for vulnerable people who may be triggered by talking about their experiences with gambling-related harm. The Strategy must reimburse participants for the cost of travel and make sure that locations are as convenient as possible. The frequency of meetings should not place any undue pressure on the experts.
What Does the Rest of the UKGC’s 2020/2021 Business Plan Look Like?
Even though there has been controversy surrounding the Experts by Experience panel, the business plan mostly focused on other topics. The Commission outlined their top five priorities, which are to:
- Protect consumer interests;
- Prevent gambling-related harm
- Raise the market’s standards
- Optimize the way lottery revenue is dispersed to good causes
- Improve regulations
The UKGC also published a forecast chart containing a breakdown of how it will receive its fees. The Commission anticipates that betting will bring 31% of 2020/2020’s income, with casinos following at 29%. The next closest is software, sitting at 16%. Arcades, lotteries, Bingo, and gaming machines all had similar percentages of 4% – 7%.
