Popular gaming company Entain has come under scrutiny for backing a campaign lobbying against proposed gambling reforms in the UK. Last month, the British government put forward a white paper suggesting amendments to the local gambling legislation, which included stricter regulations on operators to minimize gambling-related harm.
Impact on Profits
Entain brands, including Ladbrokes, PartyCasino, and Coral, could potentially see their profits impacted by these measures. Despite Entain’s CEO, Jette Nygaard-Andersen, expressing public support for the reforms in an April press release, a series of emails discovered by local media indicate a different narrative.The organisation, Player’s Panel part funded by Entain, encouraged its subscribers via email to protest the proposed reforms to their MPs. This group, proclaiming itself as the “voice of the players”, did not disclose its ties with Entain in the emails, although the betting firm’s logo is visible on its official website.The emails argued the government’s intended restrictions on gambling frequency and amounts could significantly impede responsible gambling. Subscribers were then prompted to choose from ten letter templates and send them to their local MPs. These letters criticised the suggested reforms, arguing that they infringe on personal freedoms, and called for the Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, Lucy Frazer, to intervene.
Backlash
This revelation has stirred a considerable public backlash. Carolyn Harris MP, an advocate for more stringent gambling regulations, denounced the campaign as disgraceful, stating that it reveals the true nature of companies like Entain that use covert tactics to hinder proposed reforms. Ruth Elizabeth Davidson, former Scottish Tory leader, criticised Player’s Panel for not being transparent about Entain’s financial backing in their lobbying efforts.Although Entain refused to disclose the extent of its funding to the Player’s Panel, the company emphasised the importance of ordinary gamblers voicing their concerns during the consultation process, particularly regarding changes that could impact their leisure activities. Entain contends that encouraging punters to express their opinions about the reforms does not contradict Jette Nygaard-Andersen’s public statement about the white paper.