Responsible Gambling Trust cleared of operating with a conflict of interest charges
As earlier this year, the Independed has reported that Jonathan Parke, husband of senior executive Dr. Jane Rigbye was given a lucrative research contract, the charity was scrutinized by the media.
The complaint issued by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CfG) and Rethink Gambling received a response form the Charity Commision which sent a letter to the RGT. The copy of the letter was also sent via e-mail to Gambling Insider.
The letter to RGT contains the points clarifying the Charity Commission’s decision; as the RGT does not receive any public funding and a number of its supporters such as William Hill anf Landbrokes are gamblingoperators, the person whose personal details were deleted from the contents, said that “I have reviewed the content of the letter and summarise the key points that I have relied upon when making my decision”. From the key points stated in the letter, it is clear that the conflict of interest within the charity is well-managed and recorded and therefore I am closing the complaint as unsubstantiated.”, added the person.
In the response to the ruling, RGT chief executive, Marc Etches, said: “The damaging implications in the media, and in subsequent complaints to the Charity Commission, that these relationships undermined our independence are something that trustees have taken extremely seriously. In particular, we are pleased to see trustees’ faith in Dr. Jane Rigbye, who expertly commissions our treatment services, endorsed by the rejection of unfounded personal attacks on her conduct, made by campaigners.”
In the core of the whole charges issued by the Charity Commission, the matter of fixed-odds betting terminals by Responsible Gambling Trust was central. According to CfG, it was meant for delaying political action concerning the maximum-stake reduction.
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