The Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG) successfully launched of our US facing campaign on September 26 in Washington, DC. We held an event at the US Capitol Visitor Center with policymakers and broadcast TV in attendance. Brian McLaughlin of Imperium Global Advisors, CFG’s lead for federal affairs, moderated the event. Derek Webb, the founder of CFG, presented on the campaign’s focus and research – including on the content of the leaflet below, which was distributed at the event. Derek also explained that responsible gaming should mean responsible legislation, regulation, operation and enforcement.

Matt Zarb-Cousin of Clean Up Gambling spoke about data abuse in the gambling sector, which was identified in a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the data regulator in the UK, and to the Federal Trade Commission in the US. Dr James Noyes, a senior fellow of the Social Market Foundation, a London based think-tank, explained that perception among politicians that any reform to regulation would be unpopular is misguided. He also explained how tax policy can be a powerful regulatory tool.

Brianne Doura-Schawohl, acting for CFG at state level, provided details on the incidence of gambling harm and the inadequacy of provision that would help those affected obtain best treatment and recovery. Kevin Wensing, a former US Navy Captain, continued this theme with emphasis on the military, service personnel and veterans. The Department of Defense allows slot gambling machines in overseas bases but does not allocate any of the proceeds to specifically address gambling harm.

Rounding off the event, Brian and Derek engaged in a ‘fireside chat’, with Derek commenting that any issues pertaining to an online gambling black-market, which is often used as an excuse by opponents of reform to prevent further regulation, dates back to when Antigua prevailed against the US in a World Trade Organization dispute. CFG believes gambling to be where the gambler is, not where the server is, contrary to the position that overseas black-market facilitating jurisdictions take. Nearly 50 different political offices plus many additional participants from industry, academia and media were represented at the event, a strong start to our US policy engagement.

Download the presentation here.

Download the event leaflet here.