David Carruthers

Can “The Big Three” act like “The Big One?”
David Carruthers 30th October 2007

On the face of things the article below would seem reasonable? Every one should contribute and no one can condone mal practice and support anything other than to highest corporate citizenship standards.

However, that said don’t forget the UK’s big three (Coral Hill and Ladbrokes) have dominated gaming in the UK with a effective tri-opoly for over 40 years, a period of complete influence on all the deregulation and expansion of the gaming industry.

It is only now that they [The Big Three] are having their arms twisted to stand behind that privileged position and cough up cash to protect the vulnerable and the young from the dangers if irresponsible gambling.

Gentlemen, now is the time to stand up and lead…..go on put you hands into those deep coffers and provide the resources for defenses and protection, do not push the blame onto others, make use of threats as a tool to coercion.

Boys you holed the position as the cream of the industry start acting like it.

Online Gaming Warned Over Levy Threatby Matthew Goodman29 October, 2007

NEWS
SOURCE: business.timesonline.co.uk

Neil Goulden, chief executive of gaming giant Gala Coral, is warning his industry that unless it makes a voluntary £4m donation to address problem gambling, it will likely face being hit with a statutory government levy.

Earlier this year the gaming industry agreed to raise £4m for a charity called the Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RiGT). That money was to be used to commission research into gaming, for education and treatment.

So far, however, £1.7m is all that has been collected, and the bulk of that has come from the sector’s three big players: Ladbrokes, William Hill and Gala Coral.

They have agreed to put in £450,000 each. Goulden, who will issue his warning at an industry conference to be held tomorrow and attended by ministers and the Gambling Commission, said: “We are over £2m short of the target that we set. This is unacceptable. There can be no room for complacency about problem gambling within the industry, and companies must now make their contribution.”

He added: “If the industry will not voluntarily fund RiGT, we should not be surprised if a statutory levy is imposed on us. That would reflect badly on us as an industry.
“It is also likely to mean that smaller companies would end up paying more.”