United Kingdom's Responsible Gambling Strategy Board Rebranded to Advisory Board For Safer Gambling

United Kingdom’s regulatory body has released a public announcement that revealed the name change of their independent advisors’ Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB) to the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG).

This was done just prior to the publication of new National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms.

ABSG’s prime objective will be providing independent advice to the United Kingdom Gambling Commission…

…which the body will use to deduce and implement a new strategy on reducing gambling harm over the next three years.

A Name Reflecting Clearer Roles

Speaking about this rebranding as well as national strategy on safer gambling was Dr Anna van der Gaag, who took on the role of ABSG Chair on April 1st, replacing the departing Sir Christopher Kelly:

“I would like to thank Sir Christopher for his tremendous leadership and I am delighted to be taking forward the work at this exciting time of change. Our new name reflects the need for greater clarity about everyone’s roles in the delivery of the new strategy.”

Van der Gaag added: “Gambling harms are rightly recognised as a public health issue and I welcome the Gambling Commission’s new strategy with its strong focus on both prevention and treatment.”

Safer, Rather Than Just Responsible Gambling

A renewed focus on the safety of British consumers and the prevention of harm – that’s the crucial goal ABSG seeks to achieve in order to differentiate, according to van der Gaag. She says consumers must be kept safe from consequences of harms. The commission holds research in a high regard…

…and is making it its number one priority, as well as working closely with all our partners.

UKGC’s Chief Executive, Neil McArthur, said that ABSG will continue to provide the crucial advice under Anna – the advice that is needed for long-term functioning and the delivery of the National Strategy to reduce gambling harms.

“We need to shift the focus from ‘responsible gambling’ to ‘safer gambling’. Responsible gambling suggests that the individual customer is principally in charge of keeping themselves safe. By focusing on safer gambling we want to emphasise that there is a clear onus on gambling operators to protect their customers,” added McArthur.

April 25 the Decisive Date

The Gambling Commission will begin its National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms on April 25th.

After that, ABSG will keep providing independent advice to UKGC that will bolster further research, education and treatment programmes that are needed to national gambling strategy and funding requirements associated with it.

The new responsible gaming body underwent some more personnel changes in January when Louise Baxter, consumer protection specialist, ed the team on a three-year term.

Source:

“Gambling Commision’s independent advisory board renamed to reflect sharper focus on safer gambling”, gamblingcommission.gov.uk, April 1, 2019.