The regulated betting and gaming industry plays a major role supporting the UK economy, investing in jobs and growth and contributing to our public finances. Millions of people across the UK enjoy a flutter and the vast majority do so safely and responsibly. Our members have introduced a series of safeguards to support those at risk and are major contributors to some of the UK’s leading gambling education, research and treatment charities. This page has more information about our work to tackle problem gambling, our commitment to raise industry standards and how we’re delivering jobs and growth for Britain.

Since the BGC was formed in 2019, we have been focussed on raising industry standards, protecting our customers and investing in Britain’s future. These videos chart the progress we have made to date. There’s still more to do, and we’re committed to working with our members to create a safer betting environment.

The regulated betting and gaming industry makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. As a sector, we're committed to backing Britain and investing in jobs and growth.

A 2022 report by respected economic analysts EY assessed the contribution we make to UK plc. It found that BGC members:

At a time when hard pressed high-streets are struggling, betting shops help generate footfall. Research carried out before the pandemic by ESA Retail found 82 per cent of their customers visited at least once a week, with 89 per cent of them going on to visit other shops in the area. Although their numbers have fallen in recent years, they remain an important and popular anchor for many high streets.

Our members also support the travel and tourism sector, particularly through casinos in major cities, generating over £140 million a year through international visitors. Many of our high-end casinos are regarded as amongst the best in the world.

Our members are global leaders in digital entertainment, with the online betting, gaming and bingo sector now on track to deliver 15,000 new high paid, high skilled tech jobs, as well as 5,000 new apprenticeships for young people looking to work in the industry.

READ OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT, 2021-22 >

"This is a mature, popular, heavily-regulated and world-leading sector, contributing £4.2 billion in taxes and generating £7.1 billion for the economy, as well as ploughing many millions of pounds into sports this nation loves." Michael Dugher, Chief Executive, BGC

BGC members are determined to ensure that Britain continues to bet safely. Our safer gambling message has reached millions of people - on TV and radio, in our venues and in sporting arenas across the country.

Safer gambling is now a pillar of the regulated betting and gaming industry’s business models and a priority for the BGC year-round. In 2021, we created Take Time To Think, a multi-media campaign designed to raise awareness about safer gambling tools. That campaign has been seen on TV in millions of homes, on social media and in sporting venues around the country and continues to this day.

Safer Gambling Week is a very different campaign, but no less effective. For one week every year, betting and gaming operators around the country – betting shops, casinos, arcades, bingo clubs and online operators – come together to promote responsible betting and gaming. In 2022, the campaign extended to Ireland and Europe. Now in its fifth year, Safer Gambling Week 2022 was the most successful ever, securing nearly 30 million impressions on social media.

Rates of problem gambling in the UK are low - but we're not complacent

Problem gambling rates in the UK are low by international standards, according to the independent regulator. The latest figures from the Gambling Commission show 0.3 per cent of the adult population are problem gamblers, down from 0.4 per cent the previous year. The equivalent figures in Italy, Norway and France are 2.4 per cent, 1.4 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively. However, one problem gambler is one too many and there is no room for complacency. That's why our work continues to raise standards across the regulated industry, in marked contrast to dangers posed by the unsafe, unregulated and growing online black market.

Tackling misinformation: gambling and suicide

Suicide is a tragedy and extremely complex, and most of the time there is no single event or factor that leads someone to take their own life. Gambling disorder and self-harm are both serious subjects and deserve to be treated seriously.

That is why we are concerned about misleading figures from the now disbanded Public Health England which are often quoted as fact. We do not recognise their figure of 409 suicides each year because it is based on an extrapolation of a small Swedish study of 2,099 people, and the study’s authors specifically said it should not be applied to other countries. The Department of Health and Social Care has now admitted that PHE made a fundamental "mistake" in its calculation.

The BGC is committed to socially responsible advertising and marketing.

BGC members have significantly increased the number of safer gambling messages since the pandemic. Now, 20 per cent of all TV and radio adverts are safer gambling messages and a new Industry Code of Conduct means BGC members must ensure all social media ads are targeted at consumers aged 25 and over.

Our flagship whistle-to-whistle ban means that for live games before the 9pm watershed, betting ads cannot be shown from five minutes before the game until five minutes after it ends. Research found that in its first 12 months in operation, the ban led to a 97% reduction in the number of TV betting adverts seen by children at that time. More recently, the number of TV betting adverts shown on ITV during the 2022 World Cup group stages fell by 34% compared to the last World Cup. Read more here >

BGC members have also taken action to curb under 18s viewing betting ads online through a new Code for Socially Responsible Advertising. The code requires that all social media ads must be targeted at customers aged 25 and over unless the website proves they can be precisely targeted at over 18s.

In addition, BGC members have implemented tough new rules on the use of VIP schemes. Customers are now subjected to rigorous checks before being signed up for such scheme and their betting behaviour is closely monitored on an ongoing basis.

Betting adverts do not lead to problem gambling

The UK government has previously pointed to academic research which did not prove a causal link between advertisements and the development of problem gambling. However, we are not complacent and continue to raise standards, to protect the vulnerable and promote safer gambling.

All betting advertising and sponsorship must comply with strict guidelines and safer gambling messaging is regularly and prominently displayed. It should also be noted that betting operators’ logos cannot be used on children’s clothing – including replica football kits.

Our chief executive Michael Dugher has written on the subject of sponsorship and advertising here >

BGC members are proud to support UK sport, from the grassroots to elite level.

The industry contributes £384 million to horseracing through levy, media rights and sponsorship, £40 million to the EFL and £12.5 million for snooker, darts and rugby league. Without this funding, many sports would have struggled to survive the pandemic.

But we are also clear that our support for popular sports like football must go hand in hand with safer gambling. Sporting venues across the country carry our safer gambling message to millions of fans and BGC members have introduced a raft of new safeguards to protect young fans (see below).

Britain is facing a growing online black market threat, putting customers at greater risk and threatening jobs and taxes in the UK.

The unsafe, unregulated black market is growing. Research by PwC found the number of customers using unlicensed betting websites has more than doubled, from 210,000 in 2019 to 460,000 in 2020 and the money staked is in the billions. The growth in black market betting results in lost tax revenue and reduced funding for sport. A competitive regulated market is the only effective deterrent to the growing black market.

"From what we see overseas, we know overbearing regulations don’t help problem gambling rates. But they do force punters to the growing unsafe, unregulated gambling black market." Brigid Simmonds, Chairman, BGC