The UK government has announced that all non-essential services – including betting shops – will receive direct cash payments of £6,000 per site in ‘recovery grants.’ Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, made the announcement ahead of the confirmation of the country’s national Budget this coming Wednesday. As part of the plans, a grant scheme totalling £5 billion will be …
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BGC demands reopening guarantees and no tax rises ahead of crucial budget
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has joined wider UK industries in calling for the HM Treasury to extend business rates relief and help the economy emerge from lockdown. UK business currently waits for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to present his spring statement on Wednesday 3 March, when he will announce the Budget proposals for 2021, outlining the fiscal measures and …
Read More »BGC backs Grand National delay to give betting shops a reopening boost
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has backed the proposal to delay the Grand National until after 12 April to allow betting shops to take advantage of the event. Under the government’s current roadmap out of the UK’s ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, betting shops are due to reopen on 12 April, whilst the iconic horse race will take place on 10 …
Read More »BGC calls for reopening of gambling industry after lockdown
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) insists that retail betting shops and casinos must be allowed to reopen when the UK begins to exit its most recent national lockdown. Over 44,000 people in the UK are employed in betting shops and casinos, and the BGC has argued that these businesses are prepared to support the post-lockdown economic recovery, and must …
Read More »PWC report highlights consumer ease and indifference towards black market threats
A report commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), with the support of William Hill and Entain Plc, has provided evidence of black market threats to the UK’s gambling industry. The BGC commissioned ‘Big 4’ auditor PWC to undertake the ‘evidence-backed primary research’ on black market threats to the UK gambling sector. Findings indicate that although the number of …
Read More »BGC: New evidence shows UK gambling is ‘sleepwalking’ towards a black-market disaster
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned the government about the ‘dangers of complacency’ in underestimating the growth of black-market threats on UK gambling. The trade body referred to a PWC report published this morning which reveals that the number of British punters using black market websites to place bets has more than doubled. Tracking players over the period …
Read More »BGC supports online slot safer gameplay changes
The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed new safer gameplay and design rules on slots sanctioned yesterday by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). From the 31 October, the UKGC will enforce new measures banning, online slots’ autoplay and quickspin gameplay, whilst also prohibiting game design features such as images and sounds that ‘celebrate losses as wins’. The BGC maintains …
Read More »BGC highlights industry’s safety record in ‘A Safer Bet’ animation
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has launched a new animation, ‘A Safer Bet,’ in which the gambling industry standards body highlights the UK industry’s safety record and economic contribution. In the video, the BGC argues that the UK’s gambling market is one of the safest in the world, and warns against overregulation by the government. In particular, the BGC …
Read More »BGC welcomes Kwasi Kwarteng as Business Secretary
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed the government’s appointment of Kwasi Kwarteng as the new Business Secretary. The Conservative Minister will replace Alok Sharma, who has been named president of the ‘UN COP26 Climate Conference’ – the UN’s headline climate emergency conference which will take place in Glasgow later this year. Recognised as a close ally to Boris …
Read More »Michael Dugher: ‘Gambling review needs to be led by facts not fiction’
Writing in Commons news source Politicshome.com, Michael Dugher – Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) – has warned MPs that there is ‘too much fiction swirled around the debate of gambling’. As the review of the 2005 Gambling Act goes through its ‘call-for-evidence’ phase, Dugher and the BGC have welcomed the government’s ‘determination to drive big changes’ …
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