LEADING bookmakers have been praised by charity bosses after agreeing to donate the profits from Royal Ascot's flagship race to six worthwhile causes.
The firms will hand over all profits made from win and each-way bets, after levy and duties are deducted, from the Britannia Stakes on Thursday at next month's festival.
SportsAid, whose Patron is Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, the Holocaust Educational Trust, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, SAS Regimental Association (SASRA), Ascot Racecourse Supports and Together for Looked After Children will all benefit from the initiative.
Should the bookies fail to make a profit from the race, they've agreed to donate a combined figure of £250,000 to be split between the causes.
Flutter – who own Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet – bet365, Entain (Ladbrokes and Coral owners), 888 William Hill, Kindred (Unibet), Betway, Rank Group (Grosvenor Sport), Virgin Bet, LivescoreBet, Tote, Fitzdares and Bet with Ascot have all signed up to take part.
This will be the fourth year that Betting and Gaming Council members have collaborated in this huge gesture, with last year's donation from Royal Ascot totaling a whopping £1.2 million.
That took the total raised by BGC members to over £5.5 million in the four years since its introduction back in 2019.
It's helped several amazing foundations including Prostate Cancer UK, Sue Ryder, NHS Charities Together and the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity.
Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the BGC, said: “I am once again delighted that the BGC’s largest members are helping celebrate the King’s Coronation by raising vital funds at the Royal Meeting for some of the country’s top charities.
“It is also a fitting tribute to the Late Queen Elizabeth II whose passion for horse racing was renowned, having bred multiple successful horses and clocking up 1,800 winners in her time.
“Tens of millions of people up and down the country enjoy a flutter each month and I’m proud that betting companies will once more donate their profits from one of Royal Ascot’s top races, the Britannia Stakes, to go towards some great charities. I am once again indebted to everyone at Ascot for their continued support”.
Tim Lawler MBE, Chief Executive of SportsAid said: “It’s a great privilege to be alongside these other emotive and important charities to benefit from such a prestigious and high-profile British sporting occasion.
"A huge thank you to the Betting and Gaming Council members from everyone at SportsAid. What a wonderful surprise and a very welcome boost.”
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
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