Rank Outsider Causes BCA Problems

There has been a very dismal start to the New Year for the British Casino Association (BCA), Rank has decided not to carry on with its membership with the BCA. This will be a severe blow as the British Casino Association is still reeling from the decision by Gala Coral to terminate their association in October of last year. Rank have stated that they wish to save the £140,000 casino trade association costs clearly feeling that the cost is an unnecessary expense at a time of financial instability in the country. Gala however had cited ‘strategic reasons’ for their disassociation although they have been quoted as expressing a desire to have a national gambling trade association, which would focus on the whole gambling industry rather than small specific sectors such as a casino trade association, ultimately providing a bigger and better voice for members.

The BCA was formed in 1973 and has worked continuously for the casino industry as a whole and for the benefit of the many casino trade association members, carrying much sway with Government and The Gambling Commission. However with the loss of two major players in the industry it remains to be seen if this will have removed the voice of the British Casino Association completely and whether it may prove to be the death knell for the association. It is a bad time for the BCA and the industry to have these significant alliances severed, with the Government looking at a compulsory gambling levy to be introduced it would have been preferred for the whole industry to stick together effectively singing from the same prayer sheet. Such wrangling at a time when ‘one voice’ is needed has caused the BCA to look at whether it should consider disbanding completely. It is hoped that the voluntary contributions towards the Gambling Trust that are a prerequisite of membership with the British Casino Association will not be jeopardised by the departure of these two significant industry names from the casino trade association, which undoubtedly would result in the introduction of a compulsory levy being introduced by the Government.