What I Took Away from Taunton

by Joseph Cullis, Bacta President

This week saw the first of our new-look Regional Meetings take place in Taunton – and I could not have asked for a better start.

We had members from right across the South West and South Wales, joined by Robert Gibb, Charles Holland and John Bollom from National Council. The discussion was open, honest and full of insight – exactly what I’d hoped for when we set out to bring these meetings back with a sharper regional focus.

This wasn’t about ticking boxes. It was about hearing directly from operators on the ground – what’s working, what isn’t, and where Bacta can do more to help. There were lively conversations around compliance, safer gambling and regulation, but also around the everyday realities of running a business in a challenging economic climate.

We were fortunate to have contributions from Andy Isaacs of the Gambling Commission, Craig Morgan from RBW, and Graham England from the Addiction Recovery Agency, who each brought valuable perspectives from their fields. The dialogue between members and these external partners was one of the strongest takeaways from the day.

What struck me most was the honesty of the conversations. Members are deeply concerned about the challenges ahead – from the uncertainty around taxation to the growing regulatory pressures that make it harder to plan and invest with confidence. These are not easy times for our sector. But that’s exactly why Bacta membership matters more than ever. When we come together, we’re not just sharing frustrations – we’re building a shared voice that’s strong enough to be heard. The collective experience and insight in that room is what gives Bacta its strength, and it’s what allows us to keep pressing government and regulators for fair, proportionate, and evidence-based policy.

I am very grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to such an engaging day, to our speakers for their time and insight, and to our Member Support Officers who continue to play such a vital role in helping operators ensure compliance.

Next stop: The Moat, Wrotham, on 6 November, for our Kent, Sussex and Hampshire members. I’m looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible

Return to the previous page

9 October 2025

See all news...