BGC report highlights gaming operators’ CSR advances
The report from the Betting and Gaming Council details two years of progress on corporate social responsibility.
UK.- The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has published a report highlighting the advances in corporate social responsibility (CSR) among regulated gaming operators in the UK. It includes local community activities, environmental programmes, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Noting that BGC members have supported 119,000 jobs and generated £4.5bn in taxes in the past two years, it stresses that members also work with sports and governing bodies to promote safer gambling and with gaming and hospitality trade associations to promote areas of common interest.
Specific actions highlighted in the report include a £10m donation from the Denise Coates Foundation (Bet 365) to University Hospital of Northern Midlands, a £100m pledge to CSR initiatives from the Entain Foundation and £10m provided by BGC members for the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme, which is delivered by GamCare and YGAM.
It also noted Flutter’s £5m project to support grassroots sports clubs affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, plus donations of almost £3m to NHS Charities Together and £1.25m to Prostate Cancer UK, Marie Curie, the armed forces charities and Care Radio.
BGC CEO Michael Dugher said: “This report highlights the huge contribution the regulated industry is making to the communities in which it operates.
“Across the board, we see examples where members and their employees are making a real difference to the lives of others, through their support for the post-pandemic recovery, their backing for local communities, charities and grassroots sports clubs hit hard by the pandemic, their commitment to inclusion and diversity and their determination to tackle climate change.
“I’m especially proud of the contribution made by so many people who work in our industry. I know that many of them – with the support of their employers – are active in their local communities and our report includes several inspiring examples of industry employees who have gone the extra mile to help others.”
BGC announces new forum on gambling ads
Earlier this week, the association launched a cross-industry BGC Ad Tech Forum which aims to give UK online gambling operators technical guidance and oversight on digital ad campaigns in order to protect children and vulnerable audiences.
Tech giants such as Meta, Twitter, Google and Snap will work with BGC members to develop new ways to protect audiences.
Meanwhile, the BGC has named Ministry of Defence communications chief David Willetts as its new director of communications and digital. Willetts replaces Kevin Schofield, who left the BGC to become political editor at the Huffington Post.
