GVC boss tells select committee that betting is 'in the face of the consumer'

A House of Lords select committee was told on Tuesday by GVC chief executive Kenny Alexander that too many gambling adverts and too much "noise" about gambling was confronting the public.

Alexander was one of a number of senior figures from the sector who gave evidence to the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry Committee.

The subject of gambling advertising and the industry's relationship with sport was a recurring theme during the near two-hour session, when it was also revealed that the controversial 'When the fun stops, stop' campaign is to be halted.

Lord Butler of Brockwell asked what changes the executives would want the committee to think about, to which Alexander said: "Is the industry too much in the face of the consumer at the moment? Is there too much TV advertising? Is there too much sponsorship so if you watch sporting events it is too much in the face of consumers?

"I think that is undoubtedly the case and that's something I feel should be looked at."

Kenny Alexander: gave evidence to the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry CommitteeCredit: Kathleen Sarg

Not all the witnesses agreed about the negative impact of advertising, with Sky Betting & Gaming chief operating officer Conor Grant saying that 70 per cent of their advertising relayed a safer gambling message.

He added: "We really have to think about how we can turn this into a positive. We all agree we have to look at the tonality, how we advertise and the frequency, but I do think there are positive benefits here."

Bet365 joint chief executive John Coates, whose family owns Stoke City football club, said he understood concerns about football and gambling advertising but argued that in his club's case the money helped fund free coach travel to away games and frozen season ticket prices.

Asked what the implications of the link being broken would be, Coates said: "I know what the finances of Stoke are like and frankly Stoke City survives because of the money we put into it so there is a real issue there. But it's about balancing everything and coming up with the right outcome."

The Bishop of St Albans raised the subject of the 'When the fun stops, stop' safer gambling message and asked whether it was in fact an advert for gambling.

Betting and Gaming Council chairman Brigid Simmonds replied: "We are stopping using that. We recognise the criticism that was levelled at us. We won't be using it in future."

The industry's whistle-to-whistle advertising ban was also discussed, with William Hill chief executive Ulrik Bengtsson saying it had reduced young people's exposure by more than 90 per cent.

He said: "We do recognise we haven't done all we could have done but I think the industry as a whole has made a huge amount of progress in the last few years."

Ulrik Bengtsson: 'I think the industry as a whole has made a huge amount of progress in the last few years'

Paddy Power Betfair chief executive Dan Taylor told peers now was the right time to review the 2005 Gambling Act given the changes since then.

He added: "What we crave as large licensed operators in the UK is clarity and a level-playing field in which we can operate in this market."

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