BGC Raises £1.2m for Charity from Britannia Stakes

Members of the UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) have donated a total of £1.2 million in profits made from last week’s Britannia Stakes race at Royal Ascot to charity.

Several well-known brands, such as Flutter Entertainment’s Paddy Power, Betfair, and Sky Bet, as well as Entain’s Ladbrokes and Coral, joined an initiative that saw them donate all profits made from bets on the race to a number of charities. Joining them were bet365, William Hill, 888, BetVictor, Kindred, Betway, Rank Group, Virgin Bet, the Tote, Fitzdares, and Bet With Ascot.

The race was won by 14-1 Thesis ridden by Ryan Moore, and the bookies’ resulting £1.2 million profit was split between ABF – The Soldiers’ Charity, Sue Ryder, Ascot Racecourse Supports Community Fund, The Ivors Academy Trust, and Cotswold Riding for the Disabled.

The latest donation means that the BGC has now raised more than £5.5 million for charity since it was founded in November 2019 through donations from the Britannia Stakes and Virtual Grand National.

It’s great news that BGC members have once again made such a big donation to a number of brilliant charities. BGC members support the jobs of nearly 120,000 people, and we are proud to back so many good causes in so many local communities all year round. We are also equally proud of the close relationship we have with the great British sport of horse racing. But with crowds back, with millions more watching it live on ITV, and with this year being Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, Royal Ascot 2022 was extra special. I am sure that the money we raised will once again make a huge difference to the incredible work done by all 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 – and I’d like to thank Ascot for their continued support.

Michael DugherBGC Chief Executive