Officers from the All Party Betting & Gaming Group revealed that a decision was made to close the APPG in the “near future”.
Scott Benton, MP, and Baroness Llin Goldening, co-chairs of the group, aimed to “act as a mediator between industry, parliament and government” in gambling-related issues.
The group issued a statement that read: “We thank all the Parliamentarians for taking the time to participate over the years. We thank the Chairs and Officers, past and present. They have made an invaluable contribution.”
APBGG was vocal on many issues during the months leading up to the publication of the UK Gambling Act White Paper. It has also launched an investigation in regards to the competency and effectiveness of Gambling Commissioner.
APBGG demanded “a significant shift in the Gambling Commission’s culture, strategies and practices” as well as saying that the regulator was “imbibed with a overtly antigambling ideology”.
The statement that detailed the closure went on to say: “With the publication by the government of its gambling review, and the consultations launched into different aspects of implementation, gambling continues to be an important political issue as well as a part of the UK’s economy.
The group is grateful to those who have been involved in the industry for many years.
The “informal” network for those in the British gaming industry could still be created, with ad-hoc meetings and discussions that would not fall under the formal structure.
The group was formed by a group Parliamentarians that had participated in numerous debates about what would eventually become the Gambling Act of 2005.
