The trade association that represents the British gaming and amusement industry, BACTA, has confirmed that one of its largest members has resigned. The resignation of Praesepe plc follows rumours of disagreements over recent policy decisions and provides further evidence that any attempts to create a united front with the online bingo and land based bingo industry could prove difficult.

Praesepe plc which is the UK’s fastest growing low stakes high volume gaming group confirmed the decision on Tuesday. To date the group has acquired five businesses for a total of £78m and currently operates 76 adult gaming centres including the Crystal Rooms in London's Leicester Square, 6 Bingo Clubs including the Beacon at Cricklewood, the largest bingo club in the country and 4 Family Entertainment Centres. Nick Harding, the chief executive, has been part of the association for 25 years which included a two year period as the BACTA national president.

Neil Chinn the president at BACTA added he regretted the loss of members arguing that effective lobbying is not achieved through fragmentation. This will be the view felt throughout the industry and shows that while gaming companies within the same trade associations cannot agree on polices. Calls have been made for a combined online and land based bingo association. An idea which too some involved in the online bingo world believe may not lead to a successful outcome.

The bingo association itself fails to have a majority membership within the land based bingo industry since Gala Bingo left the organisation a few years ago. In addition land based bingo operators that are members of the bingo association are not over enthusiastic about forging relationships with online bingo operators that are not based within the UK. As such if the idea of a combined association was to be successful experts within the industry argue there would have to be some form of regulation and licensing of bingo operators based overseas. As online bingo operators are not in a rush to see their industry regulated by the UK Gambling Commission or taxed by the UK Government they therefore choose to ignore the subject of an online bingo association. Clearly while they are not regulated they do not need to form an alliance to lobby the government in the first place. No doubt that once regulation and licensing is forced upon them they will change their tune, but are unlikely to want to join trade associations that struggle to maintain unity.

Having different trade associations that cannot reach agreements within themselves also weakens the position of the industry while lobbying for benefits against the Government. A separate online bingo association is not necessarily a bad thing but it could be a disaster if it has different views to the likes of the bingo association and BACTA. The Government would be able to just pick and choose policy to consider and justify no action in many cases as the result of conflicting views within the industry. BACTA and the bingo association are going to have to carefully consider policy positions and goals for the longer term rather than the short-game to ensure a unified front and avoid further fragmentation.

About BACTA

BACTA was formed in 1974. With foundations laid in the late 19th Century, it now forms the largest Trade Association in the Gaming arena, and the only Association to represent the amusement industry in Great Britain. Currently it represents the interests of over 600 companies and over 1,000 individuals.

BACTA members can be seen split into 4 divisions: Owners of Family Entertainment Centres, Machine Suppliers (operators), Adult Gaming Centres, Manufacturers and Distributors.