The UK’s Responsible Gambling Strategy Board Rebrands As ABSG
The UK’s Responsible Gambling Strategy Board has rebranded to reflect its new focus.
The UK Gambling Commission rebranded the firm as the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) in order to reflect its new focus on safer gambling.
Despite its rebranding, the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling will continue to provide the Commission with independent advice as it previously had been doing and while the Commission implements its new national gambling strategy over the next three years to reduce gambling harms across the UK.
As the Commission implements this strategy, the ABSG will work with the Commission on research, education and treatment programs to support the strategy which is expected to launch on April 25th.
In addition, the rebranding comes just as Dr Anna van der Gaag takes over the role as Chairman from Sir Christopher Kelly who had remained in the position for six years.
What They Say
In a statement, Anna van der Gaag said: “Our new name reflects the need for greater clarity about everyone’s roles in the delivery of the new strategy.
“Gambling harms are rightly recognised as a public health issue and I welcome the Gambling Commission’s new strategy with its strong focus on both prevention and treatment.”
She continued: “As the ABSG, we will be bringing a renewed focus on the safety of consumers and prevention of harm, helping to ensure consumers are free from the consequences of gambling harms, that research priorities are high up the Commission’s agenda, and that we are listening and working closely with all our partners.”
Neil McArthur, the Chief Executive of the UK Gambling Commission, commented: “We need to shift the focus from ‘responsible gambling’ to ‘safer gambling’. Responsible gambling suggests that the individual customer is principally in charge of keeping themselves safe.
“By focusing on safer gambling we want to emphasise that there is a clear onus on gambling operators to protect their customers.”