Firm behind 'voice of gamblers' group is co-owned by betting industry consultant

The company behind a lobby group that wants to derail a planned overhaul of UK gambling laws and claims to act on behalf of ordinary punters is co-owned by a consultant for the betting industry.

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Ministers announced proposals in April to make gambling safer by imposing tighter regulations on online betting firms but said further consultation was needed before a bill could be put before parliament.

The Gamblers Consumer Forum (GCF), which describes itself as the "voice of gamblers" on its website, attacked the plans and criticised proposed affordability checks outlined in the white paper that are meant to prevent huge losses to punters.

The GCF also lashed out at "misinformation" in the debate about gambling addiction, arguing that the conversation had been politicised.

Analysis by the Guardian found the group has ties to politics and a veteran gambling industry consultant, while its website contained material that experts described as "misleading".

The GCF's website says it is run by two people. One is Andrew Woodman, a parliamentary assistant to Andrew Bridgen, the MP expelled from the Conservative party due to his anti-vaccination views. The other is Abbie MacGregor, a PhD student in neuroscience and former Conservative council candidate. MacGregor was also a parliamentary researcher for two unnamed MPs and one-time campaigner against the sugar tax.

But Companies House records show that she and Woodman coown the company behind GCF with Stephen Donoughue, a betting industry consultant who offers advice to firms hoping to obtain a gambling licence, for a fee of £18,000.

Donoughue, whose personal website includes glowing testimony from betting firms, spent 15 years as secretary of a cross-party group of pro-gambling MPs.