The Senet Group, the UK responsible gambling body, announces that from 8 April, 2020 it will hand over its assets and responsibilities to the new standards body, the Betting and Gaming Council, as part of the BGC’s commitment to drive safer gambling across the industry.

Senet was established in September 2014 by four leading high-street bookmakers to help raise and maintain safer gambling standards. The body manages the MOSES retail self-exclusion scheme and the ‘When the Fun Stops Stop’ player messaging campaigns.

Since its formation, Senet expanded its membership to include many of the leading online and land- based gambling operators, playing a key role in the industry’s adoption of voluntary practices which have made gambling safer and fairer.

In April 2019 the Senet Group began a cross-industry collaboration project to develop an ambitious programme of industry reform, reflecting continued concern about the impact of gambling on vulnerable people.

The resulting package of Safer Gambling Commitments was announced by the BGC in November 2019 with the endorsement of all BGC members. As part of their commitment to safer gambling, BGC members have already introduced a ‘whistle to whistle’ ban on advertising during live sport; substantially increased funding for research, education and treatment; implemented new ID and age-verification checks; ended any exclusive rights to screen FA Cup games and will implement a ban on betting with credit cards.

Following the transfer of Senet’s responsibilities to the BGC, MOSES will continue as an independent organisation.

Commenting on the announcement, Gillian Wilmot, Senet Chairman, said: “The collaborative ethos at the heart of the new Betting and Gaming Council now offers the opportunity to combine resources to deliver safer gambling initiatives at scale. It is vital that the industry is at the core of solutions to protect its customers. Senet’s role in bringing the industry together and leading initiatives to protect its customers and secure its own sustainable future has added significant value.”

Also commenting on the announcement, Brigid Simmonds, Chairman of the BGC, said: “The cross-industry collaborative approach pioneered by Senet became a blueprint which made the creation of the new Betting and Gaming Council possible. I would like to thank the Senet board, headed by Gillian Wilmot, and the team led by Sarah Hanratty for their hard work, dedication and the legacy they leave through the Safer Gambling Commitments, which provide a roadmap for raising standards across our industry. We look forward to building on that work.”