The Entire Bacta Convention in Brief

1. Opening – Jeremy Godden, Vice President of bacta

Jeremy welcomed delegates to the 2025 bacta Annual Convention, highlighting:

• The relief at yesterday’s Budget decision not to increase Machine Games Duty (MGD).
• Thanks to MPs, DCMS and bacta members who lobbied hard and hosted political visits.
• The resilience of the sector: staying on high streets and seafronts while others have withdrawn, adapting to energy, staffing and regulatory pressures.
• The economic story, citing CEBR: ~15,000 jobs supported, ~£900m in economic value, strong regional pay and a supply chain that sustains British manufacturing.
• The social responsibility story, especially the new Self-Exclusion Action Plan, retraining over 100 operators and raising standards as a conscious choice to underpin trust and regulatory confidence.
• A renewed push for full implementation of the White Paper, especially reform of the 80/20 machine ratio, presented as vital for growth, British manufacturing and fair reward for improvements in player protection.
• Praise for bacta’s leadership team (Joseph, Allaster, National Council and staff) and for a more strategic, proactive and visible bacta in Westminster, Whitehall and the media.

2. Keynote – Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling and Heritage

Baroness Twycross:

• Acknowledged the heritage and community role of seaside and high-street amusements, often family-run for generations.
• Recognised that bacta members:

1. create tens of thousands of jobs,
2. contribute millions in tax (duties, business rates, NI, VAT), and
3. now contribute to harm prevention via the statutory levy.

• Welcomed the Budget outcome and confirmed government is trying to balance public finances with protecting lower-risk, high-employment land-based activity.
• Announced an extra £26m for the Gambling Commission to tackle the illegal market, online and land-based.
• Confirmed business rates support for smaller retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, including arcades, while noting Minimum Wage increases will still be tough.
• Stressed her continued support for player protection and praised bacta’s work on self-exclusion interoperability and trials of facial recognition.
• Was clear that there will be no changes to the 80/20 rule this year, saying reform depends on seeing strong protections working consistently.
• Set out plans for:
  cumulative impact assessments for gambling premises (evidence-based, not retrospective),
  consultations on Category D machines (higher stakes/prizes but keeping them low-risk and formalising age limits on certain machines), and
  bingo licensing, clarifying that bingo must remain at the heart of bingo-licensed venues even as new formats emerge.
• Emphasised a desire for a constructive partnership with bacta and the Commission to achieve a safe, thriving arcade and bingo sector.

3. Teddy Ryan – Managing Director, Anacta

Teddy Ryan:

• Praised bacta’s intense and effective lobbying in the run-up to the Budget, saying it helped avert a damaging MGD rise that could have cost jobs and businesses.
• Said “conventional wisdom” in Westminster was firmly expecting a tax hike, but bacta’s evidence on community value, economic contribution and cultural importance “turned the tide”.
• Argued the Budget signals that government sees bacta as a constructive partner, but stressed the relationship is a two-way street requiring continued leadership on player protection and self-exclusion.
• Gave a short political read-out: the Budget was about reassuring markets, keeping the Parliamentary Labour Party onside, and creating space for future growth-focused reforms.
• Noted that policy focus is now on visible improvements in communities, especially high streets and coastal towns where bacta members have been a “constant” despite underinvestment.
• Warned against complacency, calling this a moment to build a long-term partnership with government based on trust and shared objectives, and confirmed Anacta will continue to support bacta in that work.

4. Social Responsibility Panel – chaired by Chris Jones

Panel:

Elizabeth Speed (Chair of bacta Social Responsibility Committee, Vice Chair of Gaming Council, General Counsel, Novomatic UK)
Rob Mabbett (Engagement Director, Better Change)
Mark Weiss (Deputy CEO, GamCare)
Craig Morgan (Founder, CAM Consulting)
Key themes:

• The Statutory Levy:
  While it has generated more money overall, the distribution of funds has worsened for some charities.
• Some organisations have received no funding yet; Better Change has been told it will not receive levy funds going forward because it is part-funded by the industry.
• Concern that moving from a voluntary to a compulsory levy has shifted attitudes inside the industry towards “doing the minimum duty” rather than “going above and beyond” on SR.
• Discussion of the SR Exchange, the importance of collaboration and sharing best practice, and the risk that smaller or innovative charities get squeezed out under the new funding regime and that monies will go into pointless research projects instead.

5. Charity Presentation – Rays of Sunshine

Rhea Dickman from Rays of Sunshine gave a moving presentation.
Over 12 years of partnership with bacta, the sector has raised over £80,000 to grant wishes for children with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions.
It underlined the charitable and community heart of the industry, reinforcing the theme of “playing our part”.

6. James Clothier – Head of Crisis, Grayling: Navigating a Hostile Media Environment

James Clothier explained how to change the narrative about the sector:

• Urged members to humanise their stories, focusing on the people and families behind arcades and AGCs.
• Said national media, particularly some titles, will always look for an easy “villain” – but good case studies and human stories can change coverage.
• Noted that while The Guardian remains strongly anti-gambling, its readership (~40,000) means its influence on politicians is often less than perceived.
• Stressed that titles like the Daily Mail or The Sun carry more weight as indicators of public opinion in Westminster.
• Encouraged bacta to keep telling positive, local stories to shift perceptions.

7. Keynote – Andrew Rhodes, CEO, Gambling Commission

Andrew Rhodes:

• Opened by acknowledging the surprisingly easier tone after a Budget that could have been very difficult for the sector.
  Praised how the relationship between the Commission and bacta has been “transformed” under John Bollom and Joseph Cullis – more honest, practical and productive, focused on what can actually be done.
  Thanked members who have hosted Commission visits, saying they give essential real-world context.
  On the Budget & funding:
• Confirmed the Commission will receive £26m extra over the next few years – roughly a nine-fold increase in funding for tackling illegal gambling.
  Said this is unprecedented in his 20 years on public body boards and will allow much more focus on land-based issues, including testing and enforcement.
  On market data:
• Shared latest industry stats (to March 2025):
  GGY up 7% to £16.8bn, including £4.8bn from land-based (betting, bingo, casinos, AGCs).
  8,234 premises in total; AGCs around 1,405, betting shops ~5,805.
  Premises and operator numbers are gradually declining, indicating consolidation rather than endless expansion.
  On compliance & enforcement:
• Recalled the Commission’s letter to all AGC licence holders on self-exclusion earlier this year.
  Reported seven AGC operators had their licences suspended for failing to be part of self-exclusion schemes; most have since been reinstated after remedial steps; others remain under investigation.
  Highlighted around 30 licence suspensions across the industry in the last 9–10 months.
  Stressed that enforcement protects consumers and compliant operators, since bad practice by a few drives negative headlines and drags down the whole sector.
• Linked ongoing self-exclusion weaknesses to Ministerial caution on implementing 80/20 reforms.
  Emphasised the Commission’s preference for early, collaborative compliance, citing the bacta Self-Exclusion Exchange in Leeds as a positive example.
  On technical standards:
• Updated on the gaming machine technical standards consultation:
  Over 1,000 responses, detailed and constructive.
  Broad support for consolidating 12 standards into one, clarifying rules, and updating the Gaming Machine Testing Strategy.
  Biggest challenge: staff alerts, given multiple manufacturers and protocols.
  Promised measured, step-by-step implementation, taking industry feedback into account.
  He closed by saying the Commission aims to be pragmatic, open and clear, and that despite intense scrutiny, it wants to remain the “referee nobody talks about”.
• He also acknowledged industry frustration over no stakes and prizes uplift, saying he understood the feeling of being left to “wither on the vine” and had raised this with government.

8. Allaster Gair - Director of Communications bacta – bacta’s Vision for 2026

Allaster set out five priority areas for 2026, built on the platform of Budget stability (no MGD rise):

• Consultations
  Exiting the Category D consultation with a strong, evidence-based response on machine complexity, ticket redemption and regulatory inconsistencies.
• Pushing for outcomes that are proportionate, modern and commercially sensible, while reassuring officials on safeguards.
• Treating the bingo consultation as critical: ensuring a framework that reflects bingo’s specific economics and protects the viability of high street clubs.
• The 80/20 Review
  Anticipating movement toward an 80/20 ratio consultation in 2026, a key White Paper commitment.
• Framing 80/20 as good for British manufacturing, Treasury receipts, energy use reductions, and investment in AGCs/FECs, with no tax rise required.
• Arguing that the Budget’s decision not to raise taxes strengthens the case for a regulatory, rather than fiscal, change.
  Cashless & Technical Standards
• Positioning cashless as a business-critical reform, essential for customer expectations and medium-term viability.
• Arguing for a clear, workable pathway that the land-based sector can help shape, not have imposed.
  On technical standards, working to influence detail, pace and implementation so operators and manufacturers can comply realistically.
  Local Authorities
• Tackling inconsistency in council licensing and enforcement; some lack up-to-date policies or proper inspections despite fee income.
• Launching an intensive engagement programme with local authorities to correct misconceptions and highlight the value of AGCs and FECs to high streets and coastal communities.
• Using examples like the recent Peterborough visit where councillors’ views changed after seeing an AGC firsthand.
  Raising Standards & Delivering the Self-Exclusion Plan
  Continuing the roll-out of the Self-Exclusion Action Plan: unified system, refresher training, more MSO visits, better signage and machine messaging.
  Emphasising that this is about credibility as much as compliance – leadership on SR makes government more confident in supporting bacta’s asks.
   

He concluded that 2026 offers: stability, a clear policy agenda, and a chance for the sector to help shape regulation, with bacta more active, visible and focused than ever.

9. National Council Panel – moderated by Chris Jones

Panel:

Jeremy Godden (Vice President, bacta)
Peter Davies (Chair, Gaming Council; MD Leisure, Inspired Entertainment)
Tony Boulton (Vice Chair, Gaming Council; Director Political & Public Relations, Merkur Group UK)
James Miller (Chair, Amusement Council; CEO, Funstation Ltd)
They discussed:

• The success of the campaign to stop an MGD rise and how to build on that.
  Timing for lobbying on stakes and prizes – Tony Boulton suggested the second half of next year might be the best window.
• Peter Davies highlighted the UK’s continued attractiveness for overseas investment thanks to relative stability, even as online operations such as Inspired face higher gaming duty.
• James Miller stressed the rising costs of doing business (staff, energy, etc.), but said bacta members have a strong human story to tell and must do more to promote it – echoing the “people behind the businesses” theme.

10. Closing Address – Joseph Cullis, President of bacta

Joseph closed by:

• Welcoming the MGD freeze as the right decision, protecting businesses and jobs and providing a foundation of stability, while recognising the crucial role members played through lobbying, data and hosting visits.
• Thanking DCMS officials and the Minister for serious engagement and understanding the sector’s pressures.
• Warning that the economic backdrop remains tough, but praising the industry’s calm, factual, constructive approach.
• Re-emphasising the centrality of social responsibility, highlighting the Self-Exclusion Action Plan as the most comprehensive voluntary package yet, and praising MSOs for their role in raising standards.
• Making the case that SR and economic viability are inseparable: you can’t invest in safeguarding if venues are struggling to survive.
• Looking ahead to a busy policy agenda in 2026: Category D and bingo consultations, 80/20, cashless, stakes and prizes, and a possible Gambling Ombudsman – all to be approached with solutions, not slogans.
• Calling for continued member engagement, especially hosting MPs and councillors so they see the sector first-hand.
• Thanking bacta staff, including Robert Gibb, National Council, his predecessor John, Vice President Jeremy, Allaster Gair, and the EAG team.
• Highlighting the role of the bacta Charitable Trust, and long-standing partnerships with Rays of Sunshine and Little Lifts, as proof that the sector is rooted in its communities.
• Ending with a clear message: bacta will respond constructively to this week’s decisions, push for growth-supporting reforms, deliver self-exclusion commitments, keep raising standards and strengthen relationships with Ministers, MPs and the Commission.
  He closed by saying he is proud to be President, proud of the sector’s contribution, and confident that with the Budget’s stability the industry can face 2026 with resilience, purpose and unity.

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27 November 2025

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