UK Gambling Commission leaders tour arcades as Bacta highlights safer gambling and economic impact

The UK Gambling Commission leadership team, including Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Gardner and Chief Executive Andrew Rhodes, visited low-stake gambling and seaside arcade venues this week as part of an ongoing dialogue with the industry.

Hosted by the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Bacta), the visits underscored the industry's focus on safer gambling and its contributions to local economies, according to a press release.

Bacta President John Bollom, who led the delegation, expressed optimism about the alignment between the Gambling Commission and industry stakeholders on key issues, particularly the recommendations in the recent White Paper on gambling reforms.

"I believe that Bacta and the Commission agree on the key topics of the day not least the importance of moving forward with the White Paper recommendations, which both our organizations have worked so long and hard to complete," Bollom said.

The tour included visits to two contrasting venues: the Admiral Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) in Southampton and the Mumbles Pier in south Wales. Bollom highlighted the contributions these venues make to local economies and, in the case of Mumbles Pier, regional tourism.

"With the support of Novomatic's Elizabeth Speed and Neil Finch, who serves as Regional Operations Manager at Admiral, we were able to highlight both the economic importance of high street AGCs and exactly how high they set the bar in terms of delivering a safe and socially responsible experience, whilst contributing to the much-needed vitality of town centers," Bollom said.  

In south Wales, the focus shifted to Mumbles Pier, where Bollom stressed the dependence of the historic structure on the income generated by its family entertainment center (FEC) arcade. "Without the 100+ machines, the business model would no longer be viable," he explained.

Gambling Commission Chief Executive Andrew Rhodes shared his reflections on the visit via LinkedIn. "A good two days with colleagues from the Gambling Commission visiting operators and industry sectors in south Wales," Rhodes posted. "It was nice to have mostly good weather to see things at their best and spend time with industry stakeholders and people working in the front line of the business."