SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has revealed that this weekend’s ‘Virtual Grand National’ (Saturday 4 April) raised ‘over £2.6 million’ in donations for NHS charities.
The BGC said the event to replace UK racing’s marquee meeting was as an ‘unbridled success’, and was left delighted with the level of public engagement which saw a reported 4.8 million viewers tune-in to ITV Racing’s Saturday afternoon broadcast of the virtual race.
The race was won by 18/1 outsider Potters Corner, with all BGC bookmaker members supporting the initiative by donating market wagering profits to ‘NHS Charities Together’ – the NHS’ fundraising arm representing over 140 UK healthcare related charities.
The BGC was also pleased to announce that profits from bets placed in Ireland will be donated to the Irish charities and the Red Cross.
BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said: “I am proud that so many BGC members, up and down the country, are supporting in so many different ways the national effort to combat COVID-19, including here by contributing all of their race profits to NHS Charities Together.”
“NHS Charities Together thanked the BGC yesterday but I’d like to thank them for the amazing work that they do in support of the NHS all year round.
“When the nation was in much need of some light relief, millions joined in the fun in honour of one of Britain’s greatest sporting events and helped raise a fantastic amount for our brave heroes in the NHS.
“The country is going through what is little short of a nightmare at the moment, so it was heart-warming to see pictures on social media of so many people enjoying themselves watching the excellent ITV Racing and Carm Productions programme which had such impressive viewing figures.”
