Casinos.co.uk: Casino News Archive
Tuesday 14th September 2004
Argo Makes Social Responsibility its First Priority
At the first meeting of its governing Executive Committee, ARGO has agreed to establish a sub-committee dedicated to considering the social responsibility issues that are associated with remote gambling.
ARGO General Secretary, Clive Hawkswood, said: “The future success and credibility of the remote gambling industry will be very much dependent on its ability to address these issues adequately. If the Gambling Bill proceeds then in a sub-committee and to discuss the initial draft of an ARGO due course the Gambling Commission will produce its own codes of practice, but our members felt it was important to take the initiative. Our first steps we will be to set up a code of practice with Gamcare”.
Speaking for Gamcare, Michael Smeaton – Remote Gambling Specialist, responded by saying: “ We are pleased to see ARGO taking social responsibility seriously and addressing it from the beginning. We look forward to working with them in the near future.”
Also at the meeting, initial membership of the Committee itself was confirmed as:
Ian Spearing (Chairman) William Hill
John O’Reilly (Vice Chairman) Ladbrokes
John Coates Bet365
Steve Taylor Bet Direct
Phil Knight Coral Eurobet
John Whittaker Stanleybet
Joe Scanlon totesport
Ed Andrewes Victor Chandler
Commenting on the membership and ARGO’s priorities, chairman, Ian Spearing said: “ARGO is a new association and as its first chairman I am delighted with the quality of representation on the Committee. I look forward to working with them and other new members as we pursue their interests.
In addition to social responsibility, our priority must be to ensure that any future remote gambling regulatory and taxation regime is one which meets the needs of operators as well as Government. We will all be losers if the regulatory and tax burden is such that Britain becomes completely unviable as a base for remote gambling companies. Related to that is the question of removing unjustifiable trade barriers across Europe and ARGO will certainly be active on that front too.”
Notes for editors
ARGO was established earlier this year to represent remote gambling operators who carry on business in the UK or the European Economic Area.
Remote gambling includes telephone, online & interactive betting and gaming.
Apart from their international betting businesses, many of ARGO’s members also operate successful online casinos from other jurisdictions.
Enquiries to Clive Hawkswood 0207 434 2111
Source:OnlineCasinoNews
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