BGC Welcomes New Labour Government To Increase Safer Gambling Standards

The Betting and Gaming Council has welcomed Labour’s General Election victory and committed to working with the new government to deliver a world class betting and gaming industry.

Labour secured a landslide victory after the nation went to the polls on Thursday, July 4.

Before the election, Labour pledged to work with industry in its manifesto, to drive up standards on responsible gambling, securing our members reputation as world leading in the betting and gaming sector.

Regulated betting and gaming in Britain is currently undergoing the biggest regulatory reforms in a generation, following the publication in 2023 of the White Paper.

Our members remain committed to delivering the evidence based, proportionate proposals contained in the White Paper, which will drive up standards while putting businesses on the right regulatory footing to drive economic growth.

Those wide-ranging reforms, which will further strengthen protections, are measures both the BGC and Labour have supported.

They include a statutory levy to tackle problem gambling and gambling related harm, an Ombudsman to improve consumer redress, frictionless financial risk checks online, new stake limits for online slots, a Sports Sponsorship Code and modest but mission critical modernisation proposals for the land-based casino sector.

Betting and Gaming Council Chair, Michael Dugher, said: “On behalf of our members, the 110,000 people whose jobs rely on the regulated betting and gaming industry, and the 22.5 million people who enjoy a bet each month, we welcome Labour’s victory and its commitment to continue working with the industry.

“On hard-pressed high streets through bookmakers, in the leisure and tourism sector through casinos and bingo halls and in tech, where our members are genuine world beaters, this is a sector ready to contribute on growth, jobs and investment in the economy. We are investing in virtually every constituency in the land and we look forward to working with all the newly elected Members of Parliament.

“BGC members are currently in the midst of the biggest regulatory changes in a generation following the publication of the White Paper, which Labour supported, and much of this work will carry on now the election is complete. Our members have the much needed political certainty they need to plan and invest for a sustainable future.

“This work is backed up by the industry’s own significant efforts to drive world-class standards and protections for the vulnerable, which has transformed the sector in recent years and stands in marked contrast to the dangers posed by the unsafe, unregulated black market online.

“The BGC and our members remain committed to working with Labour to implement the evidence-based, proportionate, regulatory changes outlined in the White Paper, ensuring those measures get the balance right between protecting the vulnerable, while allowing the vast majority of punters who enjoying betting responsibly to continue doing so without unnecessary intrusion.

“The BGC had long treated Labour as a Government in waiting, working closely with shadow ministers in recent years, on behalf of our members and their millions of customers.

“Our work to drive up standards and champion a world leading British industry carries on and we look forward to partnering with Labour – as they have pledged – in this vitally important work.”

The regulated betting and gaming industry in the UK supports 110,000 jobs, generates £4.2bn in tax and contributes £7.1bn to the economy.

In addition, our members provide some of the country’s most popular sport with vital funding.

The English Football League and its clubs receive £40m, horseracing receives £350m, and snooker, darts and rugby league receive more than £12.5m.

Each month in Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4 per cent of the adult population are problem gamblers.