A Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) who criticized the strict actions of the gambling regulator has been given over £8,000 in hospitality and compensation from the betting industry in 2021, including tickets to attend a Madonna concert.
Last week, Craig Whittaker, who represents the Calder Valley constituency in West Yorkshire, voiced his criticism of the Gambling Commission in an article on the Conservative Home website.
The piece was released five weeks after Whittaker went to a Madonna show through the support of the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC), a lobby group in the industry.
Whittaker strongly criticized the regulator for their current consultation on implementing “affordability checks” for gamblers. Supporters of this measure argue that it will prevent excessive losses, but opponents argue that it is overly invasive and will push bettors towards the black market while also hurting horse racing revenue.
According to Whittaker, the Gambling Commission, as the regulatory body, frequently employs a forceful approach in their duties and occasionally oversteps the limits defined for them by the government.
He raised concerns about the commission’s consideration of actions that could potentially result in customers being compelled to provide their payslips to gambling operators.
The BGC has previously expressed criticism towards affordability checks. A spokesperson stated that they had no involvement with Whittaker’s article.
According to the parliamentary register of members’ interests, Whittaker has received a total of £8,278 this year from the gambling industry, including £2,148 worth of Madonna tickets and other forms of hospitality and payments.
The sum covers visits to Cheltenham racecourse sponsored by SkyBet and the BGC, as well as a payment of £5,000 from the BGC for delivering two seminars within an eight-hour period. Whittaker stated that his opinions were not swayed by the presents and compensations.
The gaming sector has significantly raised its expenditures on hosting and perks for lawmakers in the past few years, during a lengthy evaluation that led to government suggestions earlier this year to revise regulations overseeing the sector, which generates £10 billion annually.
Liz Ritchie, co-founder of Gambling with Lives, a charity that helps families affected by gambling-related suicide, voiced disapproval of MPs receiving gifts from the industry. Her son Jack, who tragically passed away due to gambling addiction, inspired her to speak out.
She stated that Members of Parliament who accept large sums of money from the gambling industry and then advocate against important changes should meet with families who have suffered the loss of a loved one due to gambling.
One would expect them to recognize that safeguarding industry profits is insignificant compared to the countless lives that are destroyed annually.
Matt Zarb-Cousin, a member of the organization Clean Up Gambling, stated that the gambling industry is using hospitality to entice MPs into supporting their cause.
If their points were persuasive, they would not be overly concerned with showering Members of Parliament with gifts.
Whittaker stated that the hospitality he was provided did not impact his opinions on gambling.
He stated that the solution to your question is straightforward. He personally backs the gambling industry and believes that the government’s white paper and consultations being conducted by the Gambling Commission may actually have the unintended effect of pushing more individuals towards the illegal gambling market.
“I strongly believe that a well-regulated gambling industry, in partnership with the Gambling Commission, will bring benefits to all parties involved. This includes the sector, customers, thousands of employees, and creating a safer environment. However, some of the proposed measures may not effectively achieve these goals.”
A representative from the BGC stated that the ConHome article is solely the responsibility of Craig Whittaker and ConHome. Any accusations of a larger scheme are unfounded as it has no connection to the BGC.
Whittaker faced backlash for not disclosing that he had received tickets valued at over £3,000 from Entain, the parent company of Ladbrokes and Coral, when he spoke against gambling industry reform during a Westminster Hall discussion.
He was not discovered to have violated parliamentary regulations.
Source: theguardian.com
