Gambling rakes in £15bn, however regulator Andrew Rhodes is relaxed

Betting man: Andrew Rhodes’ curiosity in betting has change into ‘extra skilled’ since he turned boss of the playing watchdog

Andrew Rhodes likes a flutter. The boss of the Gambling Commission – which oversees bookies, casinos, amusement arcades and the National Lottery – has simply had ‘a bit’ of success at Cheltenham, touchdown two winners on the opening day.

He did not go to the favored horse racing competition, although a lot of these he regulates have been on the week-long jamboree. Nor was he watching it on TV from his workplace in Birmingham. He’s too busy for that. But Rhodes, 47, makes no secret of his ardour for a punt.

‘I’m not a giant gambler nevertheless it’s one thing I’ve been doing for a very long time,’ he says in his lilting Welsh accent. ‘I’ll by no means make a residing out of it, however I’m reasonably profitable.’

His curiosity in betting has change into ‘extra skilled’ since he turned chief government of the playing watchdog two years in the past.

He cannot play the National Lottery due to his function in granting and managing the licence that Czech-owned Allwyn has simply taken over from Camelot. He cannot even gamble in betting outlets or play slot machines.

‘There’s typically a tragic scene on the South Wales coast the place my youngsters may be on the 2p machines and Dad is sitting on a bench exterior like he is some kind of miscreant.’

His profile among the many playing fraternity additionally makes him an occasional goal. He recollects: ‘I keep in mind going right into a William Hill betting store in Manchester and somebody recognised me and set upon me with their views. It was sudden however we had a pleasant chat.’

There would have been tons to debate. Bet365 boss Denise Coates has brought on a stir after paying herself £271 million – although the playing big swung into loss final 12 months. The sector rakes in £15 billion a 12 months, however Rhodes doesn’t see himself as a earnings regulator.

‘The business could make as a lot because it needs so long as it’s in response to licensing goals, if it is not focusing on weak individuals, if it is not from crime or as a result of phrases and situations are unfair.’

Anti-gambling campaigners say a scarcity of regulation has allowed betting to proliferate, particularly on-line, resulting in spiralling charges of hurt, habit and even suicide, particularly among the many younger.

MPs just lately referred to as for youngsters to be shielded from ‘bombardment’ by playing advertisements at soccer grounds. One examine discovered 7,000 playing messages on billboards, shirt sponsorship and in TV advert breaks in six matches on the opening weekend of the season.

The business disputes any direct hyperlink between sports activities promoting and playing hurt. It additionally opposes affordability checks – screening of punters’ financial institution accounts for indicators of playing misery. But the Government’s playing technique outlined final 12 months needs stricter guidelines. So the place does Rhodes stand?

‘Our focus is to make sure any promoting is ‘accountable’ so playing isn’t introduced as ‘a solution to remedy issues, earn money or relieve stress’, he says. ‘But it’s a troublesome matter, as is sports activities sponsorship.’

What a couple of hyperlink between promoting and playing hurt? Again, he hedges his bets: ‘Nobody’s actually been in a position to present a causal hyperlink between promoting and drawback playing. We know promoting has a better impact on individuals who already have an issue with playing.’

Where would he be on the spectrum between a free-for-all on one hand or prohibition on the opposite?

‘My function is to be neutral and to not have a robust opinion in both path,’ he insists, including his method is at all times led by the proof. He warms to his theme.

‘The UK in all probability has probably the most liberalised playing business on the earth,’ he says, insisting bans would drive operators underground with no safety for punters and ‘rampant criminality’. He notes that 44 per cent of the grownup inhabitants – 22.5 million individuals – gamble not less than as soon as a month.

Gambling has lengthy been a widespread leisure exercise, and the overwhelming majority of individuals haven’t got issues, Rhodes says. He accepts some have ‘horrendous points’ resulting in ‘terrible penalties’ – although one of many greatest issues is predicting who will succumb.

Rhodes was the primary in his household to go to school – in Swansea – the place he then joined the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

He went on to change into chief working officer on the Foods Standards Agency and operations director on the Department for Work and Pensions earlier than main the Gambling Commission. Its job is to make sure playing is truthful, open and clear. It can even gather the deliberate £100 million levy on operators – 1 per cent of gross earnings – to deal with playing habit. It resembles the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in appearing as decide, jury and executioner, issuing licences, implementing compliance, imposing unrestricted fines and eradicating operators’ proper to commerce.

‘In the final three years we have taken motion towards 46 operators to the tune of £103 million in penalties. We’re taking critical motion to make sure they observe insurance policies and procedures,’ says Rhodes. Some companies appealed, however ‘none have succeeded’, he notes, including: ‘We’ve a number of success taking down unlawful Facebook lotteries.’

Like the FCA, Rhodes’ temporary covers cash laundering. He says: ‘Gambling has at all times been fairly prone. There’s nonetheless a number of money in playing. That is why there are stringent controls on supply of funds.’

One cause he needs to see fewer playing advertisements at soccer grounds is he and his teenage son are ‘huge’ Swansea City followers and go to rather a lot dwelling video games so ‘it is fairly a tough subject’.

He additionally chairs the Championship membership’s charitable basis and performed a key function when The Swans changed playing agency YoBet with the native college as shirt sponsor in 2020. He says: ‘I used to be chief working officer at Swansea University on the time so I used to be on the different finish of that deal!’