Britain’s biggest bookies bet on plans for stricter self-regulation
The four largest high street bookmakers will today reveal plans for a new independent watchdog to hold the gambling industry to account. They will also publish plans to restrict the advertising of fixed-odds betting machines and pre-watershed television advertising.
The bosses of William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Paddy Power will launch the package of commitments today in response to growing political and public pressure over the regulation of the sector and particularly around betting machines currently common in betting shops.
“Actions speak louder than words. That’s why the Senet Group [the new regulator due to be created by 1 January and overseen by an independent Standards Commissioner] will be given the independence, budget and purpose to hold the betting industry to account,” said Gala Coral group chief executive Carl Leaver on the move.
The Senet Group will have the power to “name and shame” or impose fines on operators who breach rules that include the removal of all advertising of gaming machines from betting shop windows by 1 October.