The Betting and Gaming Council has welcomed Poppy Gustafsson OBE, who has become the new UK government minister for investment.
The former Darktrace CEO was appointed ahead of an inaugural International Investment Summit, to harness business expertise and drive economic growth across the UK.
BGC members already make huge economic investments across the nation, contributing £7.1bn to the economy, generating £4.2bn in tax, while supporting 110,000 jobs.
That economic footprint boosts growth around the UK, with nearly two thirds of industry supported jobs currently based outside London, including nearly 20,000 in the West Midlands alone.
However, the BGC described the sector as being “at a crossroads” as it seeks to implement the measures contained in last year’s white paper, which will cost the sector around £1bn.
Further tax or regulatory changes now could undermine that investment and threaten jobs and growth in the UK, the BGC warned.
Meanwhile the BGC has previously called for the modest, but mission critical, modernisation plans contained in the White Paper for land-based casinos to be implemented without delay, unlocking significant investment across the UK.
BGC CEO Grainne Hurst, said: “On behalf of our members, the 110,000 people whose jobs rely on the regulated betting and gaming industry, and the 22.5 million people who enjoy a bet each month, I’d like to congratulate Poppy Gustafsson OBE on her appointment as Minister for Investment.
“Poppy is an accomplished entrepreneur and brings a wealth of much needed business and financial experience to this new role. I’m also delighted to see that she will be a joint minister across the Department for Business and Trade and the Treasury, where I know her private sector expertise will make a huge contribution.”
