More Than 50 U.K. Parliament Members Support Charity Wager on Grand National Race
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) of Britain announced that over 50 Members of Parliament (MPs) have agreed to participate in their Charity Bet initiative. During this endeavour, parliamentarians will visit betting shops to place charity wagers on the Grand National, a renowned horse race.
Participating MPs will receive £50 to back a participant in the Grand National, with the winnings going to the charity of the winner's choice. Even if their chosen horse doesn't win, each MP will receive a £250 donation from BGC members for their nominated charity.
Some recognizable betting shops, including Paddy Power, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral, and Betfred, as well as local independent shops like JenningsBet and Corbett Bookmakers, are taking part in this initiative.
The BGC's CEO, Grainne Hurst, expressed her gratitude to MPs and the BGC members for their support, emphasizing the unity the initiative brings.
During these visits, MPs also gained insights into the latest measures for safer gambling being implemented across UK sportsbooks.
The Grand National, a significant cultural export and the most popular horserace globally, is scheduled for April 5 at 4 pm local time. This race is observed by approximately 600 million people from 140 countries yearly, with about 13 million British adults placing wagers on it. The BGC anticipates a £250 million total wagered on the main event alone, generating £3 million in taxes and £2 million in contributions to the horseracing levy.
While specific details about last year's Charity Bet initiative remain undisclosed, typical initiatives aim to support charitable causes through fundraising activities, such as donating proceeds to charity or organizing events with charitable components.
MPs, during their visits to well-known sportsbooks like Paddy Power, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral, Betfred, and local shops such as JenningsBet and Corbett Bookmakers, gained insights into not only the Grand National sports betting but also the latest measures for safer gambling being implemented across UK sportsbooks. Additionally, the BGC's Charity Bet initiative, which involves politics with over 50 MPs participating, extends beyond sports-betting, touching on general-news topics and supporting charitable causes.
