Betting and Gaming Council Accused of Manipulating Data

The UK Gambling Commission announced the start of the discussions with industry insiders about the gambling white paper. Although the UKGC already prepared the topics, they might add another after allegations that the Betting and Gaming Council manipulated its data.

According to sports betting platform experts, a parliamentarian accused BGC chair Michael Dugher of misleading consumers via the group’s PR efforts. The Department of Culture, Media, and Sport summoned him. Also, they will discuss the proposals included in its white paper.

However, they could also discuss another topic after Lord Foster of Bath published a report on BGC’s misnomers. According to online gambling news reports, Foster claimed the BGC posted inaccurate industry statistics. Also, the parliamentarian claimed the BGC hoped to get people to oppose the gambling reforms.

Betting and Gaming Council Under Fire

Foster used various examples to back up his claims. One person cited a BGC statement that noted an uptick in under-the-table wagering on the World Cup in the previous year.

Dugher and the Council claimed in their statement that studies showed that excessive government control increased the amount of illegal gaming. Foster and the Guardian, who had access to the raw data, counter that illegal betting accounts for barely 1% of the market.

Another charge against Dugher is that he lied about the report. In a press release back in January, he warned that strict affordability regulations might hurt the business sector. The Guardian claims the information does not mention cost-benefit analyses, including sportsbook cash flow management.

Foster dismissed the claim, pointing to a prior UKGC poll that found no online gambling operators to endorse the concept. It should be noted that Foster cited a poll the agency had performed in 2020; in the intervening two years, a lot may have changed.

Due to a voluntary industry-wide initiative, the gambling sector allegedly reduced TV ads for kids by 97%. The BGC has been accused of fudging the numbers to improve the industry’s image; the true figure was 70%.