BGC Backs UK Sport Funding and Strategy, Warns on Tax

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed recent UK Government plans to invest £400 million into grassroots sport and launch a new Modern Industrial Strategy but cautioned against any potential increases in gambling-related taxes.

The grassroots sport investment forms part of a wider £900 million funding package designed to support infrastructure and event hosting, including Euro 2028, the 2026 European Athletics Championships, and future stages of the men’s and women’s Tour de France. The BGC acknowledged the move as complementary to ongoing member-led initiatives that support community-level sport across the country.

Existing BGC member programmes include Entain’s Pitching In, which supports non-league football clubs through funding and promotion in partnership with the Trident Leagues, and Flutter’s Cash4Clubs, which has distributed £6.5 million in small grants to grassroots clubs since 2008.

In terms of wider sports funding, the BGC referenced data from EY showing that horse racing receives £350 million annually from betting and gaming contributions, the English Football League £40 million, and snooker, darts, and rugby league over £12.5 million collectively.

Alongside the sports funding announcement, the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy aims to ensure the UK remains internationally competitive, with a focus on business-friendly tax policies and renewed support for the creative industries. However, the BGC reiterated concerns over the potential impact of the ongoing online gambling tax consultation. The Council warned that increases could undermine the sector’s contributions, which currently total £6.8 billion in economic output, £4 billion in tax revenue, and support for over 100,000 jobs.

The BGC also highlighted that around 22.5 million UK adults engage in betting each month, with the majority doing so safely, noting NHS data which puts the problem gambling rate at 0.4% of the adult population.

BGC CEO Grainne Hurst, said: “As long-time committed supporters of grassroots sports through investment, charity partnerships and sponsorship deals, we are delighted to see the Government commit more cash to unite communities and inspire people to take up sport.

“We absolutely agree with DCMS Secretary of State Lisa Nandy, sport tells our national story in a way like no other, and thanks to this funding alongside the money invested by BGC members, we are creating and improving new ways for tomorrow’s sporting heroes to train and take part in sport.”

BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said: ““We welcome this boost for creative industries, but the BGC would have welcomed more focus on the leisure and tourism sector. The land-based betting and gaming sector, including our world leading casinos, are a pillar of the UK economy, and are generating growth across the nation’s towns and cities. They deserve continued Government support,” she added.

“We also welcome the Government’s commitments to a tax regime that supports its growth ambitions. We have been clear, any tax rises on our sector will not boost growth, but will force people to the growing unsafe gambling black market.”