The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has reaffirmed its commitment to sponsoring the upcoming Leicester Racecourse Veterans’ Day, an event dedicated to raising funds for various military charities.
The third edition of the Leicester Racecourse Veterans’ Day, scheduled for March 8, 2024, will be an event in which each race is sponsored by partners, each contributing to military charities associated with Leicester.
Invitations are extended to veterans, who will be featured as honoured guests at the event.
Over the past years, BGC members have collectively donated nearly £750,000 ($931,747) to armed forces charities.
The beneficiaries of these contributions include The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, SAS Regimental Association, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
These donations are typically made following events like the Britannia Stakes race at Royal Ascot, with BGC members either donating their profits or making direct contributions.
Michael Dugher, CEO of the BGC, stated: "Raising money for military charities is in the BGC's DNA, we have done it from day one, and I’m delighted we can confirm that support will continue next year."
The BGC's support for this cause aligns with its broader contributions to British horse racing. BGC members collectively contributed £455m to British horse racing in 2022.
According to the BGC, the standards body represents over 90% of the UK's regulated betting and gaming industry, while BGC members are reported to have supported 110,000 jobs and contributed £7.1bn to the national economy.