SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) will support the Labour government’s directive to improve access to grassroots sports for working-class communities.
Chairman and former Labour MP Michael Dugher praised the message of new DCMS Secretary of State, Lisa Nandy, that “prioritising support for the grassroots as a visible symbol that those young people matter to us and that sport has the power to transform lives in every part of Britain. That is our ambition.”
Dugher noted that Labour’s ambitions should not be dismissed, as contrary to cynics, the BGC shares the same ambitions: “Although some middle-class bores at The Times and The Guardian may look down their noses at it, regulated betting and sport have always enjoyed a symbiotic relationship. Sport has always shared a common heritage with betting, which has long been a part of working-class culture for many people.”
As a UK trade body, the BGC understands the common bonds sports have with working-class communities, in which BGC members have provided vital support to sports such as rugby league, darts, snooker, and lower league football.
Of distinction, Dugher highlighted the work of Betfred as the principal partner of Rugby League, a “true working-class sport.” The Manchester-based betting group sponsors the “Betfred Super League, Championship, and Challenge Cup, as well as the Women’s and Wheelchair equivalents, and is the official partner of the England Rugby League team. Without the support of Fred Done, Rugby League just couldn’t survive in its current form.”
Across the UK, sports leagues and communities benefit from betting partnerships such as The English Football League (EFL) receiving £40 million annually from Sky Bet. BGC members Entain, Flutter, and bet365 have all launched successful funding schemes promoting grassroots and helping to maintain and develop amateur football clubs for local communities.
Beyond football, “horseracing receives record-breaking funding of around £350m from the betting industry – something that will not be lost on the dozens of new MPs who now represent constituencies with racecourses.”
On the cusp of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Dugher noted UK gambling funding of SportsAid projects supporting Team GB’s next gold champions – an initiative backed by 40 parliamentarians, including many new MPs and ministers.
UK gambling’s commitment to sports funding is aligned with safer gambling measures, including the priority of implementing the White Paper, which Labour supported in opposition. Measures supported by the BGC include establishing a consumer ombudsman, casino modernisation, a statutory levy for research and prevention, and targeted online financial risk checks.
“Our members get involved because these are not just sports teams and clubs, they are part of the cultural fabric of communities, providing identity and heritage as well as crucial opportunities to youngsters.
“This is particularly true for working-class communities and the sports they love, despite the more than a hint of snobbery that sometimes defines the attitude of anti-gambling prohibitionists.”
DCMS was reminded that UK gambling is a diverse and broad sector reflective of British society, in which many incumbents have formed vital relations and economic contributions to local communities – “outside of London,” and consistent with Labour plans for government.
Dugher concluded: I have no doubt that Lisa Nandy gets this. Like she says, this is “personal” to her. She undoubtedly and rightly will want to see more done from the betting industry to continue to raise standards on safer gambling. But she knows how important sports like rugby league are to places like her own constituency in Wigan. She has long championed grassroots sport – including what happened to nearby Bury Football Club – and she has been a strong supporter of the Tote, based in her constituency.
In her first interview as the new Secretary of State, Nandy told the Manchester Evening News: “Whether it’s through investing in grassroots sport, whether it’s through opening up opportunities in media, film, dance, drama to working-class kids in communities like Bolton and Bury, that is going to be the mission and the work of our government.” The new government has set out their stall. It’s a mission I share.
