Bacta President Joseph Cullis believes the industry is experiencing one of the busiest starts to a year in recent memory, with an unprecedented pace of political engagement that shows no sign of slowing.
Reflecting on the opening weeks of 2026, Joseph Cullis said: “Just three working weeks into the new year, the Bacta team has already been involved in a wide range of high-level meetings with officials and Ministers.
“On the opening day of EAG Expo, which delivered strong results across attendance, product innovation and industry engagement, Director of Communications Allaster Gair and I met with Baroness Twycross, the Minister for Gambling. It was a constructive discussion focused on our key priorities, including reform of the 80/20 rule, self-exclusion, and the potential use of facial recognition technology.
“Maintaining regular and meaningful engagement with the Minister remains a core priority for Bacta, ensuring that the real-world experience of our members is clearly understood and consistently reflected in policy discussions.
Cullis also pointed to further ministerial engagement during EAG.
“The following day, I had the pleasure of participating in a ministerial roundtable with Kate Dearden MP, Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection, alongside business leaders from across the country. I was able to set out the impact of the Employment Rights Act on Bacta members and discuss how Government and industry can work together to protect the rights of both employers and employees.”
Summing up the significance of the early-year activity, Cullis said: “What really matters is that your trade association is firmly part of the conversation. Our views are sought and valued. That is down in no small part to Bacta’s hard-earned reputation for engaging constructively, drawing on the lived experience of our members with arguments that are supported by authentic empirical data.
Cullis confirmed that Bacta has also been working closely with DCMS officials on its draft responses to the Category D and bingo consultations, describing feedback from officials as “positive and constructive”. He added that these discussions have also provided an important opportunity to raise members’ concerns about the practical challenges ahead.
Alongside its policy engagement, Bacta has continued to deliver on its commitments to raising standards in player protection.
Acknowledging the central importance of safer gambling, Cullis confirmed that Bacta has now completed phase one of its pledge to strengthen self-exclusion across the sector.
“At November’s Bacta Convention, both the Gambling Minister and Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, were clear that player protection will sit at the heart of every future regulatory discussion,” he said. “Bacta shares that view, and I am delighted to confirm the launch of our updated self-exclusion messaging materials for use in member venues.
“Our focus is on increasing the visibility and consistency of self-exclusion messaging across the sector. Clear, prominent information supports customers, helps staff have confident conversations, and ensures a consistent approach across all member sites.”
Stepping up the meetings schedule
Joseph Cullis said……. “On the opening day of EAG Expo which delivered strong results across key metrics including attendance, product innovation and engagement, myself and Director of Communications Allaster Gair met with Baroness Twycross, the Minister for Gambling……
Originally published on Coinslot on February 2, 2026. Republished with permission.