Bacta Hosts CEO of Gambling Commission’s Visit to Gambling Venues in Wales

Gambling Commission executives Andrew Rhodes and Sarah Gardner with Bacta's John Bollom during a visit to Welsh gambling venues. (Image: Courtesy of Bacta)

The British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Bacta) has hosted a series of visits by senior officials from the Gambling Commission, including Chief Executive Andrew Rhodes and Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Gardner, to showcase the industry's contributions to high street and coastal economies. 

Mr. Rhodes was accompanied on his visit to Wales by the National President of Bacta, Mr. John Bollom.   

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Posting on LinkedIn following the visit, Rhodes said: “A good two days with colleagues from the Gambling Commission visiting operators and industry sectors in south Wales, with Mecca Bingo in Swansea, the Arena Racing Company course at Fos Las and Mumbles Pier with several people from Bacta.

"I carry out quite a few visits throughout the year and always try to get a few in during August. It was nice to have mostly good weather to see things at their best and spend time with industry stakeholders and people working in the front-line of the business." added Rhodes.

A spokesperson for the Gambling Commission said: “These visits form part of our regular stakeholder engagement activity. The Commission, its Executive, and its Board understand how important it is to visit gambling venues and operators, discuss current issues with them, and how we can work together to make gambling safer, fairer, and crime-free.”  

A Family Owned Business Since 1937 

Mr. Bollom’s family has owned the Mumbles Pier attractions since 1937 and much has changed in the industry during this time. They have seen their share of success and disaster, from a pier arcade with penny slots to booming business and a fire at the nightclub in 2022. Fred Bollom retired five years ago but he is as busy as ever.  

Joint owner Mr. Bollom stated that their company is still recovering from the fire that damaged both the Copperfish building and the former Cinderella’s. The fire hit just as they were recovering from two years of COVID disruptions. Although they received some insurance payout, they were underinsured, which has limited their funds for the pier renovation.  

Rhodes enjoyed visiting Ffoslas for the first time with industry stakeholders and front-line workers. (Image: Alan Evans)

They need an additional £1.8 million to complete the pier work, and a recent request for a £400,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales was denied. However, the bank did provide support to On the Rocks, which is doing well, creating 30 jobs and receiving positive reviews. 

Since 1999, Amusement Equipment Co. Ltd. has invested £11 million in the grade two-listed pier, while the RNLI has spent £17.5 million. The RNLI, which has worked with the pier since 1933, has maintained its operations using small boats to launch their lifeboat from the foreshore and continues to collaborate with the pier owners to restore the all-weather lifeboat station, opened in 2014.  

Good Relationship Between Bacta and the Gambling Commission 

John Bollom’s main role is now as National President of Bacta, responsible for representing both land AGC arcades and seaside arcades. Bingo venues and pop operators who all operate machines that are regulated by the Gambling Commission.  

In a phone interview with Casinos.com John Bollom commented on the visit by the Gambling Commission, saying, “It is a very important contact and relationship; we have to liaise with them over issues. The GC visit was really a bit of a fact-finding mission."

"They wanted to see the operation and how it worked in terms of the Seaside Arcade. There are only what is called category D machines in the arcade that have a maximum payout of £5.” 

“I am delighted that Andrew Rhodes, Sarah Gardner, and colleagues from the Commission have accepted our invitation to visit two businesses based in two quite different locations,” Bollom stated. 

“As well as helping to sustain high street economies throughout the country, Bacta members also make important contributions to UK tourism."

Lottery Scratch Cards Are Paper Slot Machines

We spoke to Mr. Bollom about the nostalgic element of children spending a few shillings at the seaside arcade many years ago and the environment today. Nobody under 18 plays a cash payout fruit machine but the arcade still has some of the penny push and grab machines.  

Speaking about the role High Street Gaming Centers have, Mr. Bollom believes they contribute significantly to local economies by way of rent and rates and employment. His stance is that these venues are among the safest places to gamble because of the tough regulations operators face and the staff training undertaken to spot and deal with any issues of problem gambling. 

We asked if he would like to see the same tough regulations imposed on the online casinos, Bollom added “I think that there was legislation agreed before the general election that would have brought in various restrictions in terms of online gaming." 

"There should be more concern over people who sit at home gambling online at 2 am in the morning sitting on the settee on their iPhone."

Election and Conference Season May Delay Gambling Legislation 

Mr. Bollom was concerned that with so much work undertaken on the gambling white paper that there was still no sign of it being implemented. 

“Unfortunately, the election was a snap election, and it hadn't finished its course in the Commons to become law. It actually fell by the wayside. It was. unhelpful and I believe that it had a lot of cross-party support. There was consultation, which went on for many a long year to come to that stage of agreement. I believe that I hope that the new government will pick that up and bring it forward." adds Bollom.

“It was an agreed measure, but we don't know yet until the new government has started its business. The election was only just before the summer recess. They are back the first week of September but then the conference season starts for three weeks and very little happens. So, we're very much in the hands of the MP's, the parliamentarians, on whether or not they bring their legislation forward.” said Bollom.

Bacta had been consulted, and they have talked at the table for the last four years. 

"Back in the spring, there was a whole raft of measures that affected both arcades and online gambling. There was provision for levy but all that was in this main package unfortunately didn't find the time before the election to be passed into law. It should be quite relatively easy for the new government to pick this package up and carry it forward.” added Bollom.

Baffled Over Unequal Scrutiny on Scratch Cards and Lottery From Critics of Gambling

Speaking about the lottery being the most popular gambling activity for UK residents and not facing the same criticism as casinos, slots, and online gambling from critics of gambling. 

Mr. Bollom said, “I can't give you a reason as to why that is. I think the general lotteries where you buy a lottery ticket—yes, it's a sort of once a week or two or three times a week draw—but the scratch cards that you can buy at the newsagents appear to be paper fruit machines. You know, you scratch the card and when you get 3 bells, you can win £10,000 or more.”  

“I was hopeful that these reforms, which we have done under a white paper consultation, which has been ongoing for years now, if I could get those through into law within my term, I would be a very happy bunny.”