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Ladbrokes Coral review a dispute of interest, say MPs
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MPs have actually criticised a Gambling Commission decision to let the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral lead a review of online wagering for VIP consumers.
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Carolyn Harris, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Gambling Related Harm, called it "a conflict of interest and woefully ignorant".

Gamblers with VIP status get some totally free bets and special code yohaig deals as benefits for wagering high stakes.

Betting giant GVC has been asked to examine how VIP schemes run.

Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who likewise sits on the APPG for Gambling Related Harm, said it was a "unusual" choice by the Gambling Commission (GC).

He said: "The Gambling Commission needs to be reformed. This truly does reveal you where the thinking has gone totally wrong. It's like putting the mafia in charge of looking into organised criminal activity."

The GVC-led working group will take a look at how rewards such as hospitality and gifts are provided, especially in connection with VIP programs, and whether they abide by licensing objectives to make gambling fairer and more secure.

'Relentless' pressure

The GC's move comes regardless of the regulator fining Ladbrokes Coral ₤ 5.9 m in 2019 for stopping working to secure vulnerable people gambling big amounts.

Michelle, from Surrey, informed Radio 4's You and Yours that she started betting at a stressful time when she was taking care of her mother with dementia.
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Michelle, who did not wish to reveal her full name, was made a VIP by several sites, including Ladbrokes and Coral. VIP gamblers are frequently appointed a VIP manager who remains in regular contact.

She said: "You would be called rather a lot, I have actually got different e-mails that say, 'If you continue to play at this level, you will end up being a devoted customer.'"

"It's really relentless. It's subtle things, they'll call and see how you are and a little pop-up box would appear on your computer system: 'Hi, how are you?'"
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Michelle was offered football tickets by Coral, however turned them down. Afterwards, she had an email stating that as she could not come, they would put a ₤ 200 totally free bet in her account. She states: "It's an extremely smart method of guaranteeing that you're rewarded and you keep playing."

Serious issue

In its 2019 fine for Ladbrokes Coral, the GC cited proof of gamblers not being secured. In one case, Ladbrokes did not examine the welfare of a client who had actually lost ₤ 98,000 in two-and-a-half-years. The customer had likewise asked Ladbrokes to stop sending out promos.
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GVC, which owns Ladbrokes Coral, said: "We constantly evaluate our incentives programme to ensure our most loyal members get a great service along with improved due diligence checks to guarantee that they are playing within their ways." It stated it took the welfare of clients "extremely seriously".
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The GC stated it had asked lots of betting companies to manage evaluations into the sector and had set for them to make progress.

A representative for the commission said: "There are lots of operators associated with this work and some of those have gone through our enforcement activity. They remain in no doubt about the requirement to tackle these problems at speed."
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NHS criticises wagering firms' 'harmful strategies'
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16 January 2020

APPG Gambling Related Harm
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