Bacta and Castle Point Council Compare Notes on Compliance Best Practice

Bacta has strengthened its partnership with local authorities after Membership Support Officer David Miller was invited to deliver a compliance training session to the Licensing Team at Castle Point Borough Council.

The session provided an opportunity for council officers to compare Bacta’s industry training materials with the authority’s own inspection checklist for Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs), highlighting the strong alignment between regulatory expectations and the standards promoted across Bacta’s membership.

During the presentation, Miller outlined how Bacta’s compliance framework supports operators in meeting both Gambling Commission requirements and local authority expectations.

He said: “Both our Bacta training slides and council inspection document largely mirrored each other in terms of the areas of compliance and social responsibility they addressed. However, I am also pleased to have been able to emphasise the importance of other areas that the Gambling Commission have prioritised over the past 12-months. For example, all Operators of AGC’s having access to, and use of the Multi Operator Self Exclusion Scheme (M.O.S.E.S) and adherence to restrictions on current machine numbers.”

Castle Point Licensing officers welcomed the opportunity to better understand the role of the trade association and the support available to operators.

Steve Greener from Castle Point Borough Council said: “It was great to be able to compare notes and learn more about the role of the trade association. We have taken note of Bacta’s approach for training arcade staff, and where necessary will consider using parts of it to help us to support our own team training and in any future review of our inspection and evaluation process.”

Simon Bradbury, Bacta’s Head of Compliance and Social Responsibility, said the visit demonstrated the value of open dialogue between industry and regulators.

He added: “This is an excellent example of partnership working in practice. By sharing knowledge and comparing approaches, both sides benefit and ultimately it helps raise standards across the sector.”

Bacta continues to encourage collaboration with licensing authorities across the UK as part of its wider programme of Member Support Officer training and compliance engagement.

Bacta President Joseph Cullis added: “Our Member Support Officers are one of the most valued benefits of Bacta membership. They work directly with operators and regulators across the country, providing practical guidance and helping ensure high standards of compliance and social responsibility. Engagement like this shows the positive role Bacta plays in supporting both our members and the regulators they work with.”

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12 March 2026

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