After a six-month development period, in collaboration with GBG members, board of directors and advisory bodies, the Gambling Business Group has unveiled its new 2024 strategy, which outlines the association's objectives at a time of vital importance” to the UK land sector
The Gambling Business Group has taken advantage of the global gambling industry's largest platform to launch its new four-phase strategic programme, which will focus on strengthening the land-based sector's presence on the UK's high streets over the coming years.
Presenting his new goals at the High Street Hub in central London's ICE this week, GBG board member, Paul Terroni of Novomatic Gaming UK, and the president Steve Sharp, have outlined the agenda that will guide the association's activities as it builds its status as a “respected voice for the cross-sector land-based gambling industry”.
GBG's strategy addresses the changing regulatory landscape and, importantly, the impact it will have on businesses of all sizes in the market. The four-pronged program focuses on raising the level of commercial social responsibility, government accountability, promoting better informed communication with local regulators and technological innovation, all ahead of what GBG highlights is “a vitally important time for the high street and the wider sector”.
Working together with its members and policy consultant Henham Strategy, the Gambling Business Group has sent a clear signal that social responsibility and innovation must be at the heart of everything it does and provide the driving force for its strategic objectives:
- Lead the rise of Corporate Social Responsibility across the land-based sector and demonstrate how gaming venues can contribute to the well-being of communities and society;
- Hold government to account in developing robust evidence-based gambling regulation;
- Be the industry point of contact for local regulators;
- Be the innovative technology leader to address industry challenges.
Paul Terroni, GBG board member and director of Novomatic, said: “The UK's high streets, in most areas, have been degraded. What we are doing with GBG is creating a trade association that promotes the high streets, in terms of AGC, bingo and bookmaking, trying to look forward to the new business opportunities that we can generate. This strategy is the result of close collaboration with members. Our board members represent a broad sector of AGC, bookmaking and bingo. There is no other body in the UK, whether BGC, bacta or otherwise, that is similar to what we want to achieve with promoting the high street for our businesses.”
The president of the GBG, Steve Sharp, said: “The response from members has been very positive. Henham Strategy interviewed members, presenting our proposals and obtaining feedback. It was all very positive from the members and the wider industry with whom we shared the strategy. The strategy is not just about our members, but also about protecting vulnerable people and taking care of the streets. It's about doing the right thing. We are already working on the basis of the strategy, but we will monitor the results on a monthly and weekly basis, and then discuss them with the board of directors during our regular quarterly meetings. We have committed to achieving different objectives for each of the four aims that make up the strategy, and regular meetings of the working group will monitor the results and impact”.
Peter Hannibal, CEO of GBG, said: “The strategic objectives look beyond the current set of White Paper changes, towards the long term and what is needed to protect and secure the future of the land-based gambling sector, with consumer protection and corporate social responsibility always at the center. Gaming arcades in our towns play an important role in their communities and the High Street Hub is an excellent platform to showcase some of the great work underway and exciting plans for next year.”
