During the IAGA webinar, Rhodes discussed what we can expect from the coming year.



Key points:

- Rhodes highlighted the need for less animosity between industry groups during periods of change

- He discussed several points of conflict, including the latest GGY and lottery figures

- The investigation into Evolution is briefly brought up

Andrew Rhodes, CEO of the Gambling Commission, delivered a speech as part of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) webinar yesterday.

The webinar, titled ‘Setting the Gambling Agenda for 2025: A Less Political Year?’ set the tone for the meeting rather succinctly for those in attendance.

Rhodes seemed to think so too, “I think it is a great question and perhaps part of that is because the topic of gambling has been so political and so fought over in recent years, it is sometimes hard to imagine it might not be like that.”

After the White Paper dropped in the 2023, it was clear that change was going to take a long time to enact.

Research needed to be conducted, studies completed and results compiled before any regulators could begin to see what direction the industry should go in.

As such, 2024 saw several waves of reviews and reports hit the headlines – most of which were received with mixed reviews from operators and the public alike.

Rhodes voiced that he felt there was “severe disagreement and often antipathy at play” between groups as each conflict arises in the industry - something that he hopes is tackled in a more balanced manner this year.

“I do wonder whether the frequent ‘absolutism’ we often see in the commentary from various groups will continue,” he said. “This also leads into debates about statistics and the evidence base and there is a risk that positions are so entrenched and so reductive the actual point is missed altogether.”

It’s no surprise that this is happening either, as not only is the Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) at its highest ever recorded point, but so is GGY from horseracing too. However…

“This brings the vexed question of what happens if you adjust for inflation,” Rhodes added, “and what we know there is if you did adjust for inflation then the relative value of gambling has fallen in recent years.”

While sales from large social lotteries have just passed the £1bn mark for the first time, “this will undoubtedly be a consideration around the National Lottery, which has seen some reductions too”.

Rhodes also briefly touched on the investigation into Evolution after the supplier’s games were found on unlicensed and illegal platforms.

Good to know: Evolution is currently co-operating fully with the investigation by the Gambling Commission, although it's not yet clear what outcome will come from the review

He explained that all companies involved in the industry should be responsible for promoting legal gambling, not just the regulators.

“I do not understand why anyone in the licensed industry would want to be in business with a company that is supporting illegal competition,” Rhodes concluded.

“If the Commission feels it is necessary to suspend or revoke the licence of any operator or supplier, then their activity ceases immediately. Whatever they are supplying you with, stops – immediately.

"So, I would say that anyone who is reliant on a third party needs to be comfortable they are not likely to face that risk and if you think you are, I would be doing something about that now.”

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