Bookmakers Donate £1.25 M to Charities
Members of the UK’s Betting and Gaming Council have raised more than £1.25 million for charity. The operators agreed to donate all of the profits generated from the Britannia Stakes race at this year’s Royal Ascot festival. The funds will be distributed amongst a number of worthwhile causes.
This year’s win from Perotto meant that the bookies made a profit. ©LiZardboy/Pixabay
BGC Members Give Generously
The Betting and Gaming Council has announced that its members have agreed to donate a whopping £1.25 million to charity, thanks to profits brought in by the Britannia Stakes race. Managing Director at Ascot Racecourse, Alastair Warwick, thanked the industry body for organizing the fundraiser. He stated:
“We’re delighted that Royal Ascot has once again played a part in raising valuable funds for these deserving charities. I know this fantastic initiative from the betting industry is hugely appreciated and the money will be used for some extremely worthwhile causes.”
This year’s figure has beaten last year’s sum by a mile. 2020’s race marked the first Britannia Stakes charity fundraiser, when operators raised £250,000. Last year bookies made a loss on the famous race, as nine to two shot Khaloosy was first over the finish line.
Before the race took place, bookmakers agreed that they would make a donation to the BGC’s charities, regardless of whether they made a profit. Luckily, this year they did and the profits from win and each-way bets will be handed over once levy and duties are deducted.
As the representative body for the UK’s bookmakers, casinos and online operators, the BGC counts some of the biggest gambling firms in the world amongst its members. A long list of household names signed up to this year’s fundraising initiative, all helping to raise money for charity.
The BGC wishes to thank Flutter Entertainment, bet365, Entain, William Hill, Kindred, BetVictor, Betway, Rank Group, AnzoGroup, the Tote, Fitzdares and Sporting Index for their generous donations. The operators agreed to give away their profits ahead of the special race at the Royal Ascot.
Perotto Wins
The industry body has also thanked those bettors who wagered on the race and helped to raise so much money for great causes. The money raised will be shared between Prostate Cancer UK, Marie Curie, Care Radio and the three Armed Forces charities. Speaking for the BGC, Chief Executive Michael Dugher said:
“I am absolutely thrilled by the amount raised by this fantastic initiative at Royal Ascot. This money will make a huge difference to the incredible work done by the charities involved. I’d like to thank all the BGC members who took part – as well as their customers who enjoyed a flutter on the race – for their generosity in supporting some really great causes.”
This year the winner of the Britannia Stakes race was Perotto, ridden by Oisin Murphy. The horse, which was trained by Marcus Tregoning, came in at odds of eighteen to one. The win marked Tregoning’s first success at Royal Ascot since 2003.
The trainer previously won the 2005 Dewhurst Stakes and Epsom Derby in 2006 with Sir Percy. Other notable wins include the 2001 Champion Stakes, 2002 International Stakes and 2003 Prince of Wales’s Stakes, all with Nayef. More recently, Tregoning won the 2020 Sussex Stakes with Mohaather.
The Britannia Stakes is a flat handicap event competed by three-year-old colts and geldings, and is run over a mile on a straight course. The race takes place every June, on the third day of the Royal Ascot festival. It was first run 1928 and is held on the same course and distance as the Royal Hunt Cup.
This year spectators were welcomed back to Ascot Racecourse, after last year’s event was held behind closed doors. The coronavirus pandemic caused widespread disruption to sporting events last year, and schedules are still recovering.
Support for Charities
Thanks to Perotto and the punters who bet on him, the BGC’s chosen charities will receive the vital support they need to keep going. For instance, the three Armed Forces charities will be able to continue their work in aiding personnel, veterans and army families in times of need.
Another important cause selected by the BGC is Prostate Cancer UK. As the most common cancer found in men, it is estimated that 400,000 men in the UK are currently living with the disease. The money received will be invested in research for lifesaving treatments and better tests for the disease.
Marie Curie is a charity that offers frontline nursing, hospice care and support services. Thanking the BGC for its initiative, Susan Boissier from Marie Curie explained that the donation comes at a difficult time for the charity. Its fundraising has been badly impacted by the pandemic, so donations like this are vital in ensuring it can continue its amazing work.
The final recipient is Care Radio, an organization that is still in its infancy. The new non-profit radio station aims to give support and joy to the UK’s unpaid carers. Chairman of Care Radio, Hedley Finn OBE, said that the organization is only a few days old, so is thrilled to receive the support of BGC members. He added:
“This has been a difficult and challenging year for NHS carers, care home workers and at-home carers, both paid and unpaid. This generous contribution will help us reach out to many more carers and provide them with the support and encouragement they need.”
Last year, in response to the pandemic, the betting industry united to raise £2.9 million for NHS charities. The money was raised through the Virtual Grand National, which was held in lieu of the usual event. At that point the UK was in the midst of its first lockdown period. The Grand National was cancelled, with a virtual event aired on ITV to offer some stand-in entertainment.
