BGC stresses importance of Grand National as heritage event
Ahead of this weekend’s event, the industry lobby group warns against a clampdown on gambling in the UK.
UK.- Ahead of this weekend’s Grand National race, which is happening at Aintree with live crowds for the first time since 2019, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has stressed the event’s importance as a national symbol in the UK.
The BGC called on ministers to recognise the importance of the race as a heritage event supporting racing and high street jobs.
The Grand National takes place on Saturday April 9 and is expected to attract a global audience of half-a-billion from 140 countries for the main race. UK bookmakers are predicting a return to the glory days of the race, with BGC forecasting that 13 million British punters will place £250m in bets.
The race accounts for about 2.5 per cent of annual horse racing stakes in the UK and around half of all bets taken in retail betting shops. It generates £3m in direct tax revenues and a £2m for the horseracing industry via the betting levy charged to operators.
BGC CEO Michael Dugher said: “Millions of us are going to come together this weekend, from all walks of life, to have a bet on the Grand National. It is the nation’s punt, the one time many go and place a bet in their local bookies and enjoy the thrill of horse racing with friends and family.
“It’s fantastic bookies are once again open on high streets, but there could be a sting in the tail next year if anti-gambling prohibitionists get their way.”
He added: “Research shows punters would react badly to being asked to submit to instructive affordability checks, or curbs on their consumer experience, with any ban on promotions. One study found 95 per cent of punters would not share bank details in order to place a bet – while 86 per cent of punters feared checks like this would drive gambling underground.
“We want to find workable solutions that protect vulnerable players, but blanket affordability checks would affect millions of punters, drive many to the black market, and suck up to £100m out of horseracing, jeopardising jobs and local economies.
“With the nation’s eyes on horse racing and betting this weekend, we want the government to recognise the popularity of betting, its unique place in our national culture, and ensure they address punter’s concerns and protect jobs in the upcoming White Paper.”
MP accuses gambling industry of failing to present alternatives
Meanwhile, anti-gambling campaigners and Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling-Related Harm, has accused gambling operators of seeking to avoid an evidence-led debate on reforms and of failing to offer viable alternatives to fix a “broken” system.
Speaking in parliament, she said: “For years, colleagues across the House and I have faced an onslaught of opposition from the gambling industry, for which the status quo is the perfect mix of outdated legislation, weak sanctions and limited scope. The reforms that we propose would fix that broken state of affairs.
“Rather than enter into a proper dialogue with those who are looking to reform and improve our gambling laws, the industry has come forward with very little in the way of remedies.
“It has resorted to playground name-calling, labelling those who are seeking improvements and reform as prohibitionists and, in my case, a Methodist. As a Welsh woman, I do not consider that an insult. That response is simply not good enough.”
Harris warned MPs gambling operators could not define the industry’s problems as historical given recent penalties issued by the Gambling Commission. She also said operators were in danger of fear-mongering by bringing up the fear of economic harm, job losses and tax shortfalls if regulations are tightened.
