Bacta Means Business on Safer Gambling

by Joseph Cullis, Bacta President

In my first months as President, I have made it clear that social responsibility is the defining priority for our industry. That’s why I am so pleased to share the early success of our new series of online self-exclusion workshops – a programme that shows exactly what makes Bacta, and our Member Support Officers, so distinctive.

Over the past few weeks, we have run sessions for operators, managers and frontline staff from across the country, with 72 members already taking part. These have included members from London and the South East, Scotland, the North, and the South West, with more sessions planned for the Midlands, North West, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire later this month. We have even extended invitations to non-members, reflecting our commitment to raising standards across the whole sector. The next workshop will take place on Thursday 21st August.

The workshops are short, focused and practical. They provide a refresher on operators’ responsibilities under the LCCP, reinforce how to use and record self-exclusion correctly, share good practice from across the membership, and offer early insight into the future changes we are exploring – from improved machine messaging to enhanced signage and even facial recognition technology.

What stands out is the level of engagement. Every session has seen active discussion and questions from participants. It’s a reminder that our members want to do the right thing, and that when given the tools and support, they action them.

This is where Bacta’s MSO network is unique. No other trade body offers such a direct, on-the-ground link between the association and the staff who run venues day to day. Our MSOs are not just delivering training – they are listening, advising and sharing best practice that can be implemented immediately.

These workshops are just one part of our wider work on social responsibility. They show that raising standards isn’t an abstract aspiration – it is something we can do now, with measurable results.

I am proud of the commitment our members are showing. With continued focus and the support of our MSOs, I am confident that we can lead the way in building a safer, more accountable and more trusted industry.

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14 August 2025

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