In today’s gambling news, Great Britain’s top casino operators surpassed the £100 pledged in 2020 to tackle gambling harm in the country. According to new figures from the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), its most prominent members donated £122.5m between June 2020 and March 2024, exceeding the targeted amount by £22.5m.
In 2020, the five largest operators in the Betting and Gaming Council pledged £100 million to support education, research, and treatment of gambling-related harms. In under three years, Bet365, Entain, Flutter Entertainment, and Evoke have donated millions to this gambling-support incentive, making it the most notable contribution to responsible gambling in Britain’s iGaming industry.
BGC members break donations record by millions
In addition to the £100m, these major gambling operators pledged extra funds to aid the much appreciated £10m Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme. The fund, run by GamCare and YGAM, has delivered and facilitated education, treatment, and support for over two million young Brits.
According to Wes Himes, the BGC executive director, council members have no say over how the funds will be spent. Instead, the donations are sent to bodies accredited by the UK Gambling Commission, which will facilitate research, prevention, and therapy for the British populace.
Furthermore, Mr Himes insisted that in addition to the current safe gambling incentives by BGC, the council’s is devoted to donating while letting responsible gambling organisations deliver the services.
“For the British Gambling Council members, the prime concern is ensuring the money gets to these charities doing exceptional work independently, in treatment and prevention of gambling harms.” – Wes Himes, Executive Director, Standards & Innovation.
When asked for comments on the £122.5m donation, Wes Himes said, “These figures demonstrate that our actions are backed by significant contributions that are making a real difference for the millions of gamblers in the UK.”
Judging by the feedback from the online gambling community and experts’ opinions about the £122.5 m contribution, Brits are convinced that the sector is embracing social responsibility. This news offers security and builds trust amongst UK players now that the BGC has proved its commitment to supporting responsible betting.
Other BGC members coming together to tackle gambling harms
In a show of solidarity, other members of the British Gambling Council and UK casino licensees have been contributing an additional £10m every year. The extra £50m means there is £172.5m in total for gambling harm prevention, responsible gambling education and evidence-backed research to create a healthier gaming environment for UK players.
BGC maintains calls for statutory Levy
Despite the voluntary contributions by BGC members, the council still repeats its calls for a mandatory statutory levy to fund gambling prevention and therapy further.
According to the Gambling Act Review White Paper of 2023, the government proposed a compulsory statutory levy for operators to pay to the Gambling Commission. The funds will be geared towards RPT for gambling harms.
However, with the latest change in the GB government, there are concerns that the statutory levy will either be delayed or put off altogether. The initial proposal suggested the levy to be 0.4% of gross gambling returns. However, the BGC has some reservations about this amount, citing it as disproportionate for independent casinos or bookmakers. Therefore, the UK government and the UKGC might reconsider the execution or cost of the levy.
The bottom line is that the BGC persists that the funding or levy model should support the extensive network of third-party providers. Third-sector gambling support providers currently deliver around 85% of all gambling-related therapies, education, and treatment in Britain.
The future of responsible gambling in the UK
The other day, The Betting and Gaming Council welcomed the new Labour government and emphasised the importance of the government and operators working together to deliver safer gambling.
Therefore, the industry can look forward to more regulatory reforms and incentives for sustainable gambling. For an industry that employs over 110,000 people and caters to over 22.5 million customers, transformative regulation is necessary to ensure the needs of all stakeholders are catered to.
Thus far, experts are impressed with the gambling operators’ efforts in driving world-class standards and providing robust protections for the vulnerable. We might be seeing new responsible gambling tools and self-help facilities that UK players can use to enjoy betting responsibly.
