UK gambling
companies fall short of RiGT mark
Gala Coral CEO Neil Goulden
warns U.K. gambling industry of government levy.
The
CEO of one of the biggest UK gambling company Gala Coral, Neil
Goulden, is warning the industry of the possibility of statutory
government levy. Earlier this year the gambling industry agreed
upon voluntary £4 million funding of Responsibility in Gambling
Trust (RiGT) to help prevent and treat gambling addiction, but
so far only £1.7 million have been collected, with the major
money coming from the UK's big three - Gala Coral, Ladbrokes and
William Hill. Goulden is warning that if the rest of the money
don't come voluntarily, the government will likely impose
statutory levy, which would look bad for the industry and will
make the smaller companies pay more.
Gala Coral Group runs more than 170 bingo halls
throughout the United Kingdom, as well as more than 30 casinos.
The company has more than 1,500 betting shops and also operates
online betting websites. The company is jointly owned by private
equity firms Cinven Group, Candover Investments, and Permira.
Published on
10/29/2007
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