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Former Labour deputy chief Tom Watson has been appointed as an adviser to one of many UK’s greatest playing companies.
Mr Watson, who left Parliament final yr, was a campaigner for stricter guidelines on playing whereas he was an MP.
He’s becoming a member of Flutter, which owns manufacturers like Paddy Energy and Betfair.
The agency mentioned he’ll “convey a recent and sturdy voice into the enterprise, because it seems to be for methods to guard “weak clients,” whereas serving those that get pleasure from playing safely.
Flutter, which additionally owns Sky Wager and Poker Stars, noticed its pre-tax earnings hunch 70% to £24m in August, after being hit by coronavirus and the prices of a merger. The corporate is searching for to broaden additional into on-line poker and gaming.
‘Optimistic change’
Mr Watson mentioned: “I’ve a long-standing curiosity on this sector and persistently referred to as for motion to guard these that could be probably weak to hurt.
“In taking over this position in Flutter, I intend to get beneath the bonnet of the enterprise.
He added: “I strongly consider that working collaboratively with Flutter on this manner will enable me to proceed to drive optimistic change”.
Mr Watson has beforehand referred to as for an finish to playing promoting on soccer shirts, and a ban on television ads during live events and referred to as playing was a “hidden epidemic”.
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Mr Watson resigned his West Bromwich East seat in November 2019, selecting to not contest the final election.
He had confronted makes an attempt to take away him as deputy chief by allies of then-Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn, however introduced he needed a change of profession after dropping eight stone in weight and was retraining as a fitness center teacher.
Excessive stakes
He was just lately appointed chair of commerce physique UK Music, pledging to combat for the way forward for the trade in the course of the coronavirus disaster.
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Paddy Energy reacts to new coronavirus restrictions in Manchester
Playing within the UK was liberalised by Tony Blair’s Labour authorities, resulting in an explosion in on-line betting and excessive stakes gaming machines in Excessive Road bookmakers.
However the trade has confronted a crackdown lately, with excessive stakes, fastened odds machines – dubbed the “crack cocaine of playing” by critics – having their most stakes minimize from £100 to £2.
Paddy Energy was one in every of two bookmakers chains forced to pull new roulette-style games in April final yr after criticism from the Playing Fee.
The trade can also be dealing with calls to ban on advertisements at sports activities grounds and on gamers’ shirts. A evaluation of the 2005 Playing Act is predicted earlier than the top of the yr.
Peter Jackson, Flutter’s chief govt, mentioned bringing in somebody with Mr Watson’s background was “an essential a part of my dedication to guide the trade’s race to the highest”.
He added: “We’ve got to work more durable than ever earlier than to discover a approach to proceed to convey nice merchandise and types to our clients whereas at all times having the necessity to defend the weak clearly in thoughts.
“Tom will maintain a mirror as much as assist us be sure that we’re getting this stability proper.”
One other former Labour frontbencher, and one-time ally of Mr Watson, Michael Dugher, was named because the chief govt the Betting and Gaming Council – a brand new commerce physique for betting retailers, on-line gaming companies and casinos – in December final yr.
