BGC welcomes new DCMS team

A congratulatory message was extended on behalf of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) to the new lineup of DCMS Ministers. 

Lisa Nandy MP and Stephanie Peacock MP were specifically named in the letter, which was signed off by BGC Chair Michael Dugher on behalf of the UK gaming sector.

He commented: “On behalf of our members, the 110,000 people whose jobs rely on the regulated betting and gaming industry, and the 22.5 million people who enjoy a bet each month, I am delighted to welcome Lisa Nandy to her new position as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

“She has hit the ground running and, on a personal note, can I welcome her particular support to ensure DCMS supports working class communities across the country. Betting has long been a part of working class culture for many people – from bingo halls to betting shops – and our mission to provide critical support for traditionally working class sports like rugby league, darts, snooker and lower league football is well known.

“I would also like to congratulate Steph Peacock on her new role as Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society, who joins Lisa Nandy MP in DCMS.

“Steph already has a deep knowledge of our sector and sport, having been Shadow Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for over a year, and I look forward to continuing working together.

“Both Lisa and Steph bring a wealth of experience to their new roles, backed by Labour’s welcome commitment to work with the industry. I would like to assure them both, they will have the full support and backing of this sector as we work together to drive economic growth and continue raising standards on safer betting and gaming.”

Dugher also welcomed Nandy’s newly-announced strategy as a DCMS Secretary to deepen investments into grassroots sports, which will also see additional policies being adopted to allow local clubs to take the control of pitches and sports facilities off of struggling councils. 

In an interview with Manchester Evening News, Nandy added: “For too long, too many people in many parts of the UK have not seen their lives, their families, or their communities reflected in the story that we tell ourselves as a nation about ourselves and that I think has fed this real sense of alienation from governments, this sense of anger and division.

“We found multiple ways to divide ourselves from one another in recent decades and it’s been bad for our country, bad for our communities. So whether it’s through investing in grassroots sport, whether it’s through opening up opportunities in media, film, dance, drama to working class kids in communities like Bolton and Bury, that is going to be the mission and the work of our government.”

The BGC represents industry interests that are key to UK sports, including those of UK Tote Group – a major stakeholder in British racing – which has its headquarters located in Nandy’s Wigan constituency.

Other BGC members include bet365FlutterWilliam HillEntainBetfredBetway and Kindred – all providing significant support for sports from grassroot all the way up to the elite levels.

All of these companies now hope for smooth sailing with Stephanie Peacock at the helm, as she takes on her new role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DCMS. 

In general, Peacock seems open to mutually beneficial discussions with the industry, further reiterated in her speech at BGC’s annual general meeting in February. 

She said: “Labour recognises that almost half of adults participate in some form of gambling, with the majority doing so safely and in moderation.

“From bingo to the races, many forms of gambling are rightly considered part of our British cultural tradition.

“Further to this, I know the success of the sector is vital for the economy more broadly, whether that’s betting shops, casinos, online betting and gaming or the companies that develop games.

“BGC members support over 110,000 jobs, generate billions in both GVA and taxes, and contribute to the success of many of our beloved sports through sponsorship and media rights deals.”

Peacock’s words were echoed in Dugher’s speech, who expressed full readiness to cooperate with the new Labour cabinet and drive the industry forward in the next stage of its evolution. 

He concluded: “From high streets to hospitality, from tourism to tech, our members generate £4.2bn in taxes for the Treasury and contribute £7.1bn to the wider economy. This is a sector ready to contribute to growth, jobs and investment in the economy.

“BGC members are currently in the midst of the biggest regulatory changes in a generation following the publication of the White Paper, which Labour backed, and much of this work carries on now the election has been completed.

“The BGC and our members remain committed to working with Labour to implement the evidence-based, proportionate, regulatory changes outlined in the White Paper, ensuring those measures get the balance right between protecting the vulnerable, while allowing the vast majority of punters who enjoy betting responsibly to continue doing so without unnecessary intrusion.”