Hawkswood plea after 'consultation overload'

The head of the Remote Gambling Association last week called for the government to make decisions affecting the industry based on evidence as he said the sector faced "consultation overload".

RGA chief executive Clive Hawkswood told the body's annual meeting in London that the sector was paying much more tax than had been expected by Treasury following the introduction of point of consumption taxation and that he did not believe the government plans to extend the levy to operators based offshore was compatible with state aid rules.

Speaking about the government's call for evidence on social responsibility measures and gambling advertising that has been linked to the triennial review of gaming machines affecting the retail sector, Hawkswood said he hoped the Department for Culture, Media and Sport would not be swayed by those with moral objections to gambling and the media.