High-profile anti-gambling campaigners in the UK are criticizing the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, for re-opening Betfred’s refurbished headquarters in Warrington, Cheshire. The campaigners are calling for Hoyle to apologize for his involvement in the event, which they believe brings his role as Commons Speaker into disrepute.
The controversy arose when Hoyle was photographed shaking hands with Fred Done, the boss of the UK-based sportsbook, in front of a new plaque at Betfred HQ. While the House of Commons stated that Hoyle was attending the event in his capacity as President of the Rugby Football League, the plaque at the headquarters officially credits him as the one who opened the refurbished HQ.
Campaigners, led by Will Prochaska, have condemned Hoyle’s actions, accusing him of helping to improve Betfred’s reputation despite their past troubles with anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures that resulted in a £3.25m fine from the UK Gambling Commission in 2023. Prochaska is demanding that the plaque be removed and for Hoyle to apologize to parliament and the millions of people harmed by gambling in Great Britain each year.
Matt Zarb-Cousin, the Director of Clean Up Gambling, also criticized Hoyle’s involvement, calling it a “huge error of judgment” for the Speaker to be seen endorsing a gambling operator with a track record of mistreating staff and customers like Betfred.
The situation has sparked a growing outcry, with MPs declining to comment further on the matter. The controversy has brought attention to the relationship between politicians and the gambling industry, raising questions about conflicts of interest and ethical considerations.
Overall, the incident has highlighted the ongoing debate surrounding gambling regulation and the role of politicians in promoting or endorsing gambling operators. It serves as a reminder of the need for transparency and accountability in the relationship between lawmakers and the gambling industry to protect vulnerable individuals and ensure fair and responsible gaming practices.