Entain, which owns the U.K. gambling company Ladbrokes, has been conducting a lobbying campaign urging constituents to complain to members of parliament about the reforms that are spelled out in the recently released government white paper, according to a recent Guardian report.
The newspaper obtained emails from Entain’s CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen—he CEO, while saying publicly that the company considered the recommendations “an important step towards having a robust regulatory framework that is fit for the digital age and creates a level playing field for all operators,” was funding a lobbying operation to fight the regulations or minimize them.
Entain funded an organization called Players’ Panel, which sent emails declaring, “The government has decided to limit when and how much you can bet. This is going to significantly impact your ability to bet responsibly.” Players’ Panel never disclosed that it was funded by a gaming company, according to the Guardian.
Carolyn Harris, chairwoman of the cross-party parliamentary group on gambling harm, called the lobbying “shameful,” adding, “These emails reveal their true colors as they immediately try to undermine the proposals using covert and dishonest tactics.”
Several politicians weighed in on the deception, with Lady Davidson declaring that lobbying is legitimate, “But for members of parliament – and members of the public – to be kept in the dark over which well-funded gambling firm is behind lobbying efforts such as template emails is pretty underhand. In fact, it stinks.”
Entain has declined to say how much funding it is providing to Players’ Panel, or whether any staff members wrote the emails.
It said in a statement: “It is hugely important that everyday punters have an active say in the consultation process that has been launched as part of the Gambling Act review, and especially those elements of the review that could impact a recreational past-time [sic] that is enjoyed by millions of people across the country.”
