The British Casino Association severely weakened by departures
Wednesday 14th January 2009
It has been revealed that Rank is to leave the British Casino Association, an action which many are calling as the final throes of the association. The BCA was hit in October 2008 by the withdrawal of the Gala Coral Group from this once powerful trade body which appears to be a dying breed. So why has the BCA being hit by two such high profile resignations?
Aside from the fact that membership fees are in excess of £140,000 a year there has been a suggestion that the likes of Rank and Gala Coral have been particularly disappointed with the role the BCA played in the government's recent gambling initiative. The initiative itself has been nothing short of a shambles with U-turns galore and millions of pounds wasted on cancelled auctions.
When Gala Coral left in October 2008 the company suggested it was interested in setting up a National Gambling Association and there is speculation that Rank may well be looking to jump into bed with Gala Coral to create the new association. The BCA is in many ways holed below the waterline and unless it can make serious inroads in promoting and improving the prospects for the UK industry it may well disband in the future.
It has been revealed that Rank is to leave the British Casino Association, an action which many are calling as the final throes of the association. The BCA was hit in October 2008 by the withdrawal of the Gala Coral Group from this once powerful trade body which appears to be a dying breed. So why has the BCA being hit by two such high profile resignations?