SCORES OF MPs BACK BGC GRAND NATIONAL CHARITY BET CAMPAIGN

OVER 50 MPs and peers from both sides of the House will visit their local bookmakers to place a Betting and Gaming Council Charity Bet on the Grand National.

Thanks to Britain’s biggest bookies, each MP will be handed £50 to back a horse in the world’s most famous steeplechase, with all the winnings going straight to a local charity of their choice.

And if their horse doesn’t come in, BGC members will make a £250 donation to the MP’s nominated charity, guaranteeing everyone wins whatever the outcome.

MPs taking part were invited to visit either a Paddy Power, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral, Betfred or local independent betting shops JenningsBet, Corbett Bookmakers, and others, in their constituency to place the Charity Bet organised by the BGC, the standards body for the regulated industry.

Last year, the Charity Bet raised over £15,000 for a wide range of good causes.

The annual race at Aintree, Liverpool, is the most popular – and most watched - horserace in the world, and this year takes place on Saturday 5^th April at 4pm.

Each year around 600 million people across 140 countries tune in to watch it, with an estimated 13 million adults in the UK having a punt on the outcome.

According to industry research conducted by the BGC, approximately £250m will be staked on the main event.

Meanwhile, the Grand National is expected to generate £3m in tax revenues for the Treasury and £2m in contributions to the horseracing levy to support the sport.

Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst, said: "The Grand National is one of the very few global sporting occasions with the power to bring the whole nation together, spurred on by the history, the heritage and the incredible spectacle it offers.

“It truly is the nation’s punt, and we are absolutely delighted to work alongside our amazing members to ensure the Grand National once again also supports some amazing charities.

“Bookmakers are the beating heart of this country’s highstreets, generating jobs, taxes and crucial investment. They also provide community to millions of customers, many of whom will be visiting their bookie to witness the Grand National.

“I want to extend a massive thanks to all the MPs and peers who have taken time out to meet with staff, for taking part, and helping to raise thousands of pounds for good causes.

“The Grand National is one of this nation’s greatest cultural exports, and I’m thrilled to see parliamentarians once more back racing, their local bookmakers and good causes, best of luck to all.”

Alongside placing their bets, MPs got the chance to hear from dedicated staff about the range of safer gambling measures available to customers in bookmakers.

Independent analysis carried out by Serve Legal found UK betting shops have better age verification checks than convenience stores, supermarkets and petrol forecourts.

Meanwhile, 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.

A study by ESA Retail found that 89 per cent of betting shop customers combine their trip to the bookies with visits to other local businesses.

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.

BGC members support 109,000 jobs, generate £6.8bn for the economy while raising £4bn in taxes.

They also help fund horseracing to the tune of £350m a year through sponsorship, media rights and the levy, provide £40m for the English Football League and its clubs and millions more for rugby league, darts and snooker.

Across the BGC, including bookmakers on hard-pressed high streets, casinos in the leisure and tourism sector and global tech powerhouses in online gaming, our members have raised more than £6 million for good causes.