SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
UK betting and racing stakeholders have joined to pay tribute to Lord David Lipsey, a key political ally to the industry through his extensive support for the sport of greyhound racing.
Lord Lipsey passed away aged 77 on Tuesday after coming into difficulty while swimming in the River Wye in Wales. His death has sent shockwaves through various corners of the industry.
A Labour life peer, Lipsey had a prominent political career which saw him work in the government of Prime Minister James Callaghan in the 1970s while he is also credited with coining the term ‘New Labour’ to refer to Tony Blair’s leadership of the party. He was also a prominent journalist, writing for the likes of The Sunday Times, Economist and The Guardian, among other widely read outlets.
With regards to the betting sector, however, he is best remembered as a life-long fan and supporter of greyhound racing. This included a tenure as Chair of the British Greyhound Racing Board, now the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), between 2004 and 2009.
His support for the sport continued long after his leadership tenure at the BGRB/GBRB ended 16 years ago, helping to found Premier Greyhound Racing (PGR), a media and entertainment platform for the sport, and serving as Chair of the business until 2024.
Explaining PGR’s media mission to SBC News back in 2023, Lipsey explained that the campaign was working to secure widespread coverage of racing. He said: “We are determined to take the sport out of the greyhound section and into the front pages.”
Paying tribute to Lipsey on social media, PGR shared a statement from its Managing Director, Garry Nash, who said that “David had a great love for the greyhound, and for greyhound racing as a whole”.
‘A tremendous ambassador for greyhound racing’
Tributes paid to Lord Lipsey following death aged 77https://t.co/QD7sLoZeN0
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) July 4, 2025
Nash continued: “This love started when he first went racing and then continued and developed as he took home his first greyhound. His enthusiasm for all things greyhound racing was infectious and he commanded great respect throughout his career in the sport.
“We were very lucky to have David as chair of Premier Greyhound Racing from our inception until his retirement last year. Throughout this time, we benefited from his wisdom and guidance which he delivered with dedication, professionalism and no little humour. Our condolences to Margaret and his family, with whom he loved spending time at his home in Wales.”
A voice for UK betting
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the trade body and standards association for the UK licensed betting sector, has echoed its counterparts in racing in paying tribute to the late Lord Lipsey.
As stated above, Lipsey offered a positive voice in favour of the industry, particularly during the often heated debates during the build up to, during, and after the two-and-a-half-year-long review of the 2005 Gambling Act, and the subsequent implementation of its recommendations – a process which is still ongoing.
A BGC statement praised Lipsey as a “prominent and respected voice in debates on gambling reform, bringing insight, balance and intellectual rigour to discussions that affect millions across the UK”.
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, said: “We are deeply saddened by the news of Lord Lipsey’s passing. He was a man of enormous integrity and wisdom, who brought clarity and compassion to every debate he took part in.
“His love for greyhound racing, and his dedication to ensuring the highest welfare standards for the dogs, was inspirational. His contributions to the gambling sector were marked by reason, research and a desire to ensure public policy worked in the best interests of all. He will be greatly missed by everyone at the BGC and across the industry.”
Tributes have also been observed from operators themselves. Entain, operator of the two of the UK’s biggest high-street betting brands, Ladbrokes and Coral, paid its respects to Lord Lipsey in comments sent to the Racing Post.
As a key stakeholder in UK retail betting, greyhound racing is a sport with a great deal of significance for Entain, as well as to its high-street competitors like William Hill, Betfred, Paddy Power, and countless independents.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Lord David Lipsey,” said Andy Hicks, Entain UK Managing Director, quoted in the Racing Post. “As chair of Premier Greyhound Racing, Lord Lipsey brought wisdom, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare and sustainability of the sport.
“His leadership helped shape a modern, responsible vision for greyhound racing in the UK – one that balanced tradition with innovation and care for the animals at its heart.”
Lipsey’s support for the betting sector and sport of greyhound racing will have been particularly welcome in recent years as both industries face mounting public and political pressure.
As noted above, betting continues to navigate regulatory adjustments as the recommendations of the Gambling Act review White Paper are adopted and the Gambling Commission continues to engage in consultations on these matters.
Meanwhile, greyhound racing is facing public pressure over animal welfare concerns, with the Welsh government moving to ban the sport. As it stands, only six countries allow greyhound racing globally – the UK (potentially minus Wales),Republic of Ireland, US, Australia, Mexico, and Vietnam, with New Zealand the latest sovereign state to ban the sport.
As Chair of the BGRB (later GBGB), Lipsey was instrumental in addressing many of the animal welfare concerns which surrounded the sport, such as leading rehoming efforts. These efforts have been built on by the GBGB and its subsequent leadership in the form of initiatives like ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound” and the Greyhound Retirement Scheme (GRS).
