Five BGC members pledge £100m to aid problem gambling treatment
Five members of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) have pledged to spend £100m ($125.4m) to improve treatment services for problem gamblers.
Bet365, GVC Holdings, William Hill, and Flutter’s Paddy Power Betfair and Sky Betting Gaming, confirmed they will provide the funds over the next four years to charity GambleAware, which will ensure the money reaches those who require counselling and treatment for gambling.
BGC members will also give £3.8m of funding to safer gambling advertising campaign BetRegret 2020.
BGC CEO Michael Dugher said: “The latest funding commitment is yet more evidence of the industry’s determination to improve the quality and provision of treatment for problem gamblers – and of our members eagerness to get on with it as quickly as possible.”
The BGC has additionally announced a number of its members will donate all profits from the flagship race at Royal Ascot to COVID-19 and cancer charities.
All profit from win and each-way bets, after levy and duties are deducted, from the Britannia Stakes heritage handicap at 4:10pm on 18 June will be given to Prostate Cancer UK, Marie Curie, The Care Workers Charity and the Berkshire Community Foundation Coronavirus Fund.
In April, the virtual Grand National raised £2.6m for NHS Charities Together after BGC members donated all race profits made.
From 15 June, betting shops are reopening in England, albeit under strict social distancing and health and safety measures.
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