A selection of prominent UK charities have received significant funding following the Britannia Stakes race at Royal Ascot, courtesy of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). Prostate Cancer UK, Ascot Racecourse Supports, Missing People, Heros, GoRacingGreen, and the Churchill Lines Foundation will share a donation of £262,284. This substantial sum was raised after Callum Rodriguez rode Mickley to victory.
BGC members, including Flutter (Paddy Power, Betfair, Sky Bet), Entain (Ladbrokes, Coral), Evoke (888 William Hill), Kindred (Unibet), Betway, Rank Group (Grosvenor Sport), Virgin Bet, LivescoreBet, Fitzdares, Star Sports, QuinnBet, Tote, and Bet with Ascot, all participated in this charitable initiative.
This marks the fifth year the BGC has conducted its Britannia Stakes charity race, contributing over £3 million to various charities to date. Since its inception in 2019, the BGC has raised more than £6 million for good causes through both the Britannia Stakes and Grand National charity bet campaigns.
The betting and gaming industry in the UK plays a crucial role in the economy, supporting 110,000 jobs, generating £4.2 billion in tax, and contributing £7.1 billion overall. Betting shops alone support 42,000 jobs, contribute £800 million in taxes, and add another £60 million in business rates annually. Additionally, BGC members contribute £350 million a year to horseracing through sponsorship, media rights, and the betting levy.
Approximately 22.5 million adults in Britain place bets each month, with the most recent NHS Health Survey for England indicating that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.
Michael Dugher, CEO and Acting Chair of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “It’s fantastic news that BGC members are able to once again make such a huge donation to a range of good causes doing incredible work in communities up and down the country.
“I’d like to thank all our incredible BGC members who took part this year – as well as their customers who enjoyed a flutter on the race – and I’d like to thank Ascot for their continued support.
“Thanks to our members, the Britannia Stakes has raised over £3m in five years for a host of incredible charities, and over £6m in total for good causes.
“Those are huge sums and demonstrate just how committed the BGC and our members are to charities working in sport, racing, health and the veteran community. I know how delighted these charities will be with this vital funding, and the BGC and our members are incredibly proud to make it possible.”
Laura Kerby Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We are once again thrilled at the generosity of everyone at the Betting and Gaming Council and their betting operator members for helping fund lifesaving research and raising vital awareness about prostate cancer.
“1 in 8 men will be affected by prostate cancer, it’s the most common cancer in men, but the good news is if caught early this disease is curable.
“We’re proud to be part of this brilliant incentive, which will help fund that research towards a screening programme, so we can catch prostate cancer early and save lives. From the punters to the bookmakers and all the parties involved, we thank everyone for their continued support.”
Alastair Warwick, Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse, said: “We are hugely grateful to the BGC and its members for once again donating this substantial amount from the Britannia Stakes to so many worthy causes.
“We are thrilled that Ascot Racecourse Supports has been included and the money will be used to help us develop our community programme and support those most in need around the local area.”
Grace Muir, Founder and CEO of HEROS, said: “HEROS would like to say a huge thankyou to The Betting and Gaming Council for selecting us to be a beneficiary from the profits of the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot this week.
“HEROS is a place of inspiration and hope where we endeavour to facilitate progress and aspirations for all those that come to us, both horse and human. Being recognised in this way validates our belief in the power of kindness, respect and time, and will enable us to continue and grow our work securing positive outcomes for all.”
Jo Youle OBE, Chief Executive of Missing People, said: “Our heartfelt thanks to the Betting and Gaming Council, their members, and everyone who enjoyed a flutter on the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.
“With 170,000 people in crisis going missing every year, this incredible donation, from such an iconic race, will aid those in crisis and help us provide specialist support to families and friends with a missing loved one.”
GoRacingGreen founder Debbie Matthews, said: “As a single person run initiative, with so few resources, this funding is vital to expanding the work #GoRacingGreen aims to achieve going forward and getting more people to the races.
“An educational programme will now be developed across the Racing Industry to make them aware of the challenges people face accessing race meetings. I cannot thank the BGC enough, and as a whole community we are overwhelmingly grateful. This will change people’s lives.”
Roger Lewis Chairman of the Churchill Lines Foundation (CLF) said, “The Churchill Lines Foundation, on behalf of the Special Forces Support Group, is so grateful and humbled to be a part of such generosity from the bookmaking members of the Betting and Gaming Council.
“The Unit, which is tri-service, is permanently operational, and so the inevitable demands on both those who serve as well as their families and their children are considerable. The monies raised will go directly to support immediate welfare needs within the Unit.
“This donation will make a significant difference to the lives of many people who go quietly about their business to make our lives, and the lives of countless others, safer. Thank you all so much.”
