BHA to offer responsible gambling course

The British Horseracing Authority will develop a free online course called Racing2Learn.

UK.- The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will offer a free online course on safe and responsible gambling in partnership with the charity Racing to School.

Named Racing2Learn, the course will promote BHA’s rules on gambling and raise awareness of problem gambling.

It will provide a list of resources available and organisations offering support to those affected by gambling-related harm

BHA executive director Will Lambe said: “Responsible gambling is an important topic for our sport and our industry, and education can be a hugely influential tool in ensuring those who bet on British racing do so safely.

“We are fortunate to have Racing2Learn as a resource, providing in-depth remote learning opportunities on an extensive range of areas, and I would encourage all those interest to explore it further.”

Racing to School ran pilot workshops last year with the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) focusing on the same topics.

Chief executive John Blake said the online course with the BHA will allow it to reach more people across the racing sector.

He said: “Why shouldn’t racing be a leader in educating young people around informed gambling choices as part of the sport’s on-going commitment to responsible gambling, entwined with the work to welcome the next generation of racing fans?

“We were never going to skirt around the potential harms while pointing to the strong support and advice network that is close to hand.

“This module is a vital first step of our work in this area, and we plan to expand our education programmes to feature the intrinsic and positive relationship between gambling and racing.”

The announcement of the collaboration comes as Safer Gambling Week 2020 begins in the UK and Ireland.

YGAM has recently announced a programme to train London police officers about gambling issues among young people.