CHARITIES SET TO WIN BIG AT ICONIC BRITANNIA STAKES RACE, THANKS TO BRITAIN’S BOOKIES
ALL profits from this year’s Britannia Stakes race at Royal Ascot will be donated to a host of top UK charities, thanks to Betting and Gaming Council members.
For the sixth year running profits from the world famous big-field heritage handicap on June 19th will be divided between a group of good causes, Prostate Cancer UK, Missing People, the SAS Regimental Association, Ascot Racecourse Supports, Racing to School, Greenhouse Sports and TempusNovo.
BGC members Flutter (Paddy Power, Betfair, Sky Bet), Entain (Ladbrokes, Coral), Evoke (888 William Hill), Kindred (Unibet), Betway, Rank Group (Grosvenor Sport), Virgin Bet, LivescoreBet, Star Sports, QuinnBet, Tote and Bet with Ascot have all signed up to the fundraising initiative.
Each bookmaker has agreed to donate all profits from win and each-way bets, after Levy and duties are deducted on the iconic race, held this year on Royal Ascot’s Ladies Day.
And just as in previous years, if bookmakers fail to make a profit, they have generously agreed to make a combined donation of £200,000 to be split among the nominated charities.
Since its launch, the Britannia Stakes charity initiative, has raised over £3m from BGC members for a host of worthy causes.
In total, since 2019, BGC members have raised in excess of £6m for a range of health, sport and veterans charities including Prostate Cancer UK, Sue Ryder, NHS Charities Together, the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, ABF the Soldier’s Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
The BGC hopes this year’s initiative will ensure once again that punters can enjoy a race where, even if they lose, a range of good causes are guaranteed to win.
Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce that BGC members will once more be raising significant funds for a host of charities at the Britannia Stakes.
“The BGC and our members are incredibly proud to have raised millions for a host of cherished good causes over the last five years, and it’s fantastic to partner with Royal Ascot once again to add to that tally.
“Millions of us enjoy a flutter, while Royal Ascot is the crown jewel in the sporting calendar, so it’s fantastic to see Britain’s bookies once again donating their profits from the Britannia Stakes. Whatever the result, charities are guaranteed to win big.”
Felicity Barnard, Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse, said: “We are delighted that members of the Betting and Gaming Council continue to support this hugely successful initiative.
“We are again thrilled that Ascot Racecourse Supports is a beneficiary – the monies raised are helping to support key community and equine legacy projects and we are hugely grateful.”
Laura Kerby, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We are delighted that the Betting and Gaming Council and their members will once again help fund lifesaving research and raise vital awareness about prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men.
“We’ve been proud to team up with them to raise more than half a million pounds through previous editions of the Britannia Stakes, and we're excited that funds raised this year will support our groundbreaking screening trial, TRANSFORM. Led by world-leading experts, TRANSFORM will find the best way to screen men for the disease - so that one day all men will be invited for regular tests to get diagnosed early enough to be cured.
“1 in 8 men will be affected by prostate cancer, but the good news is if caught early this disease is curable. We thank everyone for their continued support. This will make a huge difference to men affected by this disease – and their loved ones too.”
Jo Youle OBE, Chief Executive of Missing People, said: “170,000 people in crisis go missing every year. Thankfully, Missing People is there for them and all those who love them, no matter what.
“We can only do this with generous donations. That’s why we’re so grateful for the backing of the Betting and Gaming Council, their members, and everyone taking part in the Britannia Stakes.
“This incredible support means we can be there with information, advice and support when people need it most. The support will also help us to create long-term change to help reduce the number of people disappearing, and for a fair response for all. We simply couldn’t do this without you.”
John Allcock, Secretary, SASRA, said: “The SAS Regimental Association has been humbled to be included as a recipient of this year’s proceeds from the Britannia Stakes Charity race.
“The generosity of the horseracing fraternity is very much appreciated and we would like to thank the BGC for their support in looking after our members and their families who have, and continue, to keep us all safe.”
Greenhouse Sports CEO, Don Barrell, said: “A huge thank you to the Betting and Gaming Council for selecting Greenhouse Sports – a charity that uses sport to support young people facing poverty – as one of the beneficiaries of this year’s Britannia Stakes.
“Like everyone heading to Royal Ascot, we believe in the power of sport. But for the young people we work with, it’s about more than the game. It’s about having a trusted adult in their corner.
“Our full-time Coach-Mentors are embedded in schools in some of the UK’s most deprived areas. They’re there every day, year after year – building relationships, keeping young people engaged in education, boosting confidence, and helping them believe in their future.
At a time when child poverty is at a record high, your support is so important. It means we can reach more of these young people – and improve their life chances.”
Chief Executive, John Blake, Racing to School, said: “Racing to School is honoured to be a beneficiary of the Betting and Gaming Council’s innovative Britannia Stakes initiative, which has supported so many important causes since inception.
“We’re very grateful for this opportunity as horseracing’s smallest charity, working to deliver active curriculum-learning for young people nationwide.
“The charity’s mission is to inspire young minds through unique access to the sport and its participants, and we look forward to celebrating the milestone of reaching our 250,000th participant in early Autumn.
“To be a small part of the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting can help us realise our ambition of engaging a record 17,500 young people this year.”
Steve Freer, TempusNovo CEO, said: “TempusNovo are delighted to be one of the charities to benefit from the funds raised from this year’s iconic Britannia Stakes Race.
“We are genuinely humbled to be one of only seven organisations chosen. It is fitting that our mission is to support people with convictions into sustainable employment and the betting and gaming industry in the UK supports 109,000 jobs, generates £4bn in tax and contributes £6.8bn to the economy.
“Poverty is the parent of crime and therefore employment is vital to breaking that cycle of crime. It's so much more than just an income, it's the foundations of a ‘stable’ life.”
Betting shops in the UK support 46,000 jobs, contribute nearly £1bn a year in direct tax to the Treasury and another £60m in business rates to local councils.
Meanwhile, the entire regulated betting and gaming industry in the UK supports 109,000 jobs, generates £4bn in tax and contributes £6.8bn to the economy.
BGC members also help fund horseracing to the tune of £350m a year through sponsorship, media rights and the betting levy.
Each month in Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4 per cent of the adult population are problem gamblers.
NOTE TO EDITORS
For further information on this year’s nominated charities, visit:
https://www.ascot.com/ascot-racecourse-supports
https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/
https://www.marsandminerva.co.uk/
https://www.greenhousesports.org/
https://www.racingtoschool.co.uk/
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