Q&As
The Punters Panel and Horserace Bettors Forum already represent gambling consumers, why do we need another group?
The GCF respect the work of both of these organisations. Where we differ is principally our stance on the Government’s White Paper. We believe:
Gambling is wholly misunderstood and unjustly slated both by the media and anti-gambling groups
Affordability checks should be strongly argued against
That The White Paper will, not only make it harder for an ordinary bettor to exercise their perfectly legal right to place a bet, but will also do nothing to help those addicts that need professional help and treatment. The GCF stands up for those that need help, and those that do not.
We are not funded by a corporate body so rely on your donations to run our campaigns.
The GCF accepts in the strongest terms that there are individuals who are living with a gambling addiction. We stand up for all gamblers, including addicts. What we do not accept that is every bettor is on the verge of addiction, and therefore needs protecting – this is at complete odds with what we know about the science surrounding addictive behaviours. Those addicted to any addictive agent, be in alcohol, gambling, shopping, food, need specific and professional treatment, not to be lumped in with the rest of the population through arbitrary regulation. If we are to tackle the issue of gambling addiction, we need to recognise that the addict and healthy bettor are two very different individuals that cannot, and should not, be subject to the same measures. We need to get away from the idea that placing a bet puts you at automatic risk of acquiring an addiction, and we urgently need a White Paper that is specifically pro-addiction help, not blanket anti-gambling ideology.
As we argue here, (link to affordability piece) this is a blunt instrument which subjects ordinary bettors to intrusive checks on their finances and which will have little to no impact on addicted gamblers who will find ways to circumnavigate these regulations.
ving with a gambling addiction. We stand up for all gamblers, including addicts. What we do not accept that is every bettor is on the verge of addiction, and therefore needs protecting – this is at complete odds with what we know about the science surrounding addictive behaviours. Those addicted to any addictive agent, be in alcohol, gambling, shopping, food, need specific and professional treatment, not to be lumped in with the rest of the population through arbitrary regulation. If we are to tackle the issue of gambling addiction, we need to recognise that the addict and healthy bettor are two very different individuals that cannot, and should not, be subject to the same measures. We need to get away from the idea that placing a bet puts you at automatic risk of acquiring an addiction, and we urgently need a White Paper that is specifically pro-addiction help, not blanket anti-gambling ideology.
The ordinary bettor is under attack from several fronts: proposed intrusive government legislation and a regulator which is giving the bookmaker industry vague and conflicting advice which is adversely impacting the punter experience, certain Big Corp bookmakers seeking to restrict you and misusing money laundering regulations to withhold your payments, and an increasing media narrative which seeks to compare gambling with other objectively more harmful addictive agents, like tobacco. We will be standing up for the gambling consumers on all these fronts.
Our primary focus initially will be a lobbying campaign against the anti-bettor aspects of the White Paper and the anti-gambling narrative that surrounds it. We will be seeking to speak to Parliamentarians, Government Departments and various thinktanks and groups with an interest in gambling as well as putting forward an extensive media campaign.
We will only succeed with your support, so please email us at contact@gamblersconsumerforum.com
