BGC Members Donate Record £172.5 Million to Address Problem Gambling | iGaming Future

BGC members have donated a record £172.5 million over four years to combat problem gambling and related harm, new figures reveal. This funding exceeds the initial pledge of £100 million made by Flutter, Entain, bet365, and Evoke (888/William Hill) between 2020 and March 2024. The significant increase underscores the commitment of BGC members to supporting research, prevention, and treatment (RPT) initiatives, primarily administered by the independent charity GambleAware.

Additionally, BGC members have funded the £10 million Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme. Delivered by leading charities YGAM and GamCare, this programme has reached over two million 11 to 19-year-olds in the UK. Including these contributions, the total donations from the largest operators amount to £132.5 million. Other BGC members and UK-regulated licensees have contributed around £10 million annually, bringing the total to approximately £172.5 million over the last four years.

In 2024 alone, BGC members anticipate providing around £50 million in RPT funding to various vital charities. For over two decades, the regulated betting and gaming industry has supported RPT services through a voluntary levy on all operators. This record contribution supports a network of independent third-sector RPT providers, which currently treat about 85% of all problem gamblers receiving treatment in Britain. All RPT donations go to charities accredited by the Gambling Commission, ensuring that BGC members have no influence over how the funds are spent.

The BGC advocates for replacing the current voluntary model with a statutory levy, provided it remains independent, protects longstanding RPT providers in the third sector, and is tiered to safeguard land-based operators. Expert providers like GamCare and Gordon Moody, which operates the country’s only residential care center for women problem gamblers, exemplify the critical services funded by these donations.

In September last year, Stephanie Peacock MP, now Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DCMS, visited Gordon Moody’s Residential Centre in Dudley to witness their world-class support and treatment services. She commended the safe environment and thanked staff and service users for sharing their experiences.

Beyond RPT donations, BGC members have raised millions for various charity initiatives. The BGC alone has generated over £6 million for veterans, sports, and health charities through campaigns like the Grand National Charity Bet Campaign and Britannia Stakes Charity Bet campaign.

The previous government had launched a consultation into creating a new levy, but the response has been delayed by the General Election. Despite this, BGC members have pledged to maintain voluntary contributions to ensure funding security for charities. However, the BGC remains concerned about current proposals, which could disproportionately impact independent bookmakers, potentially leading to shop closures and job losses.

BGC members contribute £7.1 billion to the economy, generating £4.2 billion in tax and supporting 110,000 jobs. Each month, around 22.5 million adults in Great Britain place bets, with the NHS Health Survey for England estimating that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.

Wes Himes, BGC Executive Director of Standards and Innovation, said: “Around 22.5 million people in this country enjoy a regular flutter, and the overwhelming majority do so perfectly safely and responsibly.

“Our mission to raise standards carries on strong and these figures demonstrate our actions are backed by significant financial contributions which are making a real difference.

“Our members have no say on how these funds are spent and RPT donations only go to independent organisations accredited by the Gambling Commission to deliver these critical services.

“For the BGC and our members, the priority is ensuring the money reaches these charities doing exceptional work in Prevention and Treatment and funds truly independent, evidence led research.

“While this voluntary levy has delivered record funding, the BGC supports the replacement of the current levy scheme with a mandatory one, but the delivery of this new scheme must ensure future funding security for the third sector which is delivering such excellent work.

“As we go forward, this huge investment will continue, underlining this sector’s unrivalled commitment to responsible betting and gaming.”