BGC Commends Poppy Gustafsson’s Appointment as Minister for Investment and Pledges Support for UK Growth Agenda

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has expressed its support for the appointment of Poppy Gustafsson OBE as the new Minister for Investment, committing to work closely with the government to drive economic growth across the UK. Gustafsson, formerly the CEO of Darktrace, steps into her role ahead of the upcoming International Investment Summit, which aims to leverage business expertise to bolster the national economy.

BGC members play a significant role in the UK economy, contributing £7.1 billion, generating £4.2 billion in tax revenue, and supporting 110,000 jobs. Approximately two-thirds of these jobs are based outside of London, with nearly 20,000 in the West Midlands alone. Betting and gaming companies have established technology hubs in various UK regions, from bet365 in Stoke-on-Trent to Flutter in Leeds and Sunderland, as well as supporting high street shops, hospitality, and tourism through casinos.

The sector faces a critical period as it implements reforms introduced in last year’s White Paper, which are expected to cost around £1 billion. The BGC cautions that additional regulatory changes or tax increases could impact these investments and potentially threaten job growth. They have called for the immediate implementation of modernization measures from the White Paper, such as reforms on cashless payments, gaming machine allocations, and allowing casinos to offer sports betting. These reforms are aimed at making the industry more competitive and responsive to customer needs.

Beyond its economic contributions, the betting and gaming industry also provides significant funding to British sports, including £40 million to the English Football League from Sky Bet, support for the Scottish Professional Football League from William Hill, and contributions to other sports by members like Betway and Kindred. Additionally, horseracing receives £350 million in support, with other sports such as snooker, darts, and rugby league benefitting from over £12.5 million in funding.

The BGC has emphasized the need to combat the growing black market, which lacks the safeguards of regulated operators and poses risks to player protection and tax revenue. A recent study highlighted that the black market draws up to £4.3 billion annually from UK bettors, potentially costing the Treasury £335 million over five years—funds that could support critical public services.

In line with its commitment to balanced regulations and responsible gaming, the BGC aims to strengthen the industry’s foundation in the UK, advocating for policies that promote growth while protecting consumers and maintaining stable tax frameworks. The industry remains popular, with 22.5 million UK adults participating in various forms of gaming each month, while problem gambling remains low, estimated at 0.4% of the adult population according to the NHS Health Survey for England.

BGC CEO Grainne Hurst, 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, I’d like to congratulate Poppy Gustafsson OBE on her appointment as Minister for Investment.

“Poppy is an accomplished entrepreneur and brings a wealth of much needed business and financial experience to this new role. I’m also delighted to see that she will be a joint minister across the Department for Business and Trade and the Treasury, where I know her private sector expertise will make a huge contribution.

“From high streets to hospitality, from tourism to tech, our members generate £4.2bn in taxes for the Treasury and contribute £7.1bn to the wider economy. This is a sector ready to contribute on growth, jobs and investment across the economy.

“The BGC and our members remain committed to implementing 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 enjoy betting responsibly to continue doing so without unnecessary intrusion.

“Our sector needs a solid and stable regulatory footing and tax environment to be able to unlock new investment and grow across the whole of the country. That is particularly true for our land-based casino members, where policy is already set, but needs to be implemented, to unlock vital new investment.”

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