Betting & Gaming Council lead shadow cabinet discussions as Flutter, Entain, Evoke and more attend vital meeting

Betting and Gaming Council

Representatives from the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) met with the shadow department for digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) on 1 April, as both sides explored “key issues” relevant to the UK gambling industry.

Primarily, the docket featured discussions on responsible gambling, regulatory developments and the future of the domestic sector. 

To learn more about responsible gambling, visit our responsible gambling at casinos page which also offers resources and advice on where to seek help if needed. 

Members of the BGC — a standards body for the regulated UK gambling market — were welcomed to the House of Commons by Stuart Andrew MP, the shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport and Louie French MP, shadow minister for gambling.

Leading the panel for the UK standards body was former Entain group director for corporate affairs, and current BGC CEO, Grainne Hurst. 

Hurst carries significant experience in senior roles, culminating in her appointment as BGC CEO in September 2024. Commenting on the roundtable with shadow cabinet members, she celebrated the opportunity to discuss industry matters: 

“It was fantastic to sit down alongside our members and other stakeholders from across our diverse sector to thrash out the challenges and opportunities facing the sector today with the shadow DCMS team.”

Hurst continued to applaud the efforts of both opposition ministers, saying: “We are incredibly fortunate to have Stuart Andrew and Louie French, two dedicated MPs who understand this industry, and are keen to ensure the opposition are completely across the key pressures facing our members, their millions of customers and thousands of employees.

“Collaboration is key for the BGC, and we welcome this positive engagement with the shadow DCMS team.”

Joining Grainne Hurst at the roundtable were representatives from major iGaming operators in the UK, including Entain, Evoke, Flutter, bet365, Bally’s, the Rank Group, Hippodrome Casino and Star Sports.

Members of the UK Tote Group, National Lottery, Gambling Business Group and Bacta were also in attendance. 

Of particular interest during the roundtable was the industry’s ability to maintain economic growth while managing consumer protection and social responsibility measures, as the UK Gambling Commission prepares to roll out new limits on promotional offers.

The meeting also focused on industry challenges faced by modern operators, as well as potential support for future policies from the current opposition. 

A press release issued by the BGC after the roundtable pointed to a recent NHS Health Survey on the number of problem gamblers in Britain. 

An estimated 0.4% of the adult population suffers from problem gambling; proving the need for open dialogue on how to best designate industry resources and apply appropriate safer gambling measures.

The BGC is noted for supporting 109,000 jobs and generating £6.8bn for the UK economy – with £4bn in tax revenue raised by the group. 

Sports investment — such as £350m annual horseracing contributions and £40m in funding towards the English Football League — sits at the heart of BGC operations. 

Through astute sponsorship agreements, media rights and the gambling levy, the BGC also funds darts, rugby league and snooker events.