It’s safe to say it’s been an eventful year for the BGC. The Covid-19 pandemic has presented its own challenges, but we haven’t taken our eye off our top priority – raising standards and driving big changes across our industry.

From encouraging deposit limits and boosting spending on research, education and treatment, to reducing the number of betting ads seen by children and introducing tough rules on VIP schemes, we have been determined to drive change. And we have lots more still to do.

We swung into action as the country locked down in March, publishing a 10-pledge action plan setting out the standards expected of our members during the crisis, including encouraging deposit limits and stepping up interventions if customers spent too much time or money betting. BGC members removed all TV and radio product ads for six weeks, and have pledged that at leas 20% of ads in future should be safer gambling messages.

The Government is now preparing to launch its Gambling Review, which will shape our industry for years to come. We hope it will be an evidence-led review and are looking forward to playing our part. Our industry employs 100,000 people and, in normal times, contributes more than £3bn a year to the Exchequer. That’s why we hope the Review will avoid unintended consequences like driving customers to the offshore, illegal black market.

We will ensure that our number one priority to raise standards continues in the important year ahead.

Michael Dugher
CEO, Betting and Gaming Council