The Betting and Gaming Council is to receive an award from the three Armed Forces charities after our members raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to help them carry out their work.
The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund are benefiting to the tune of more than £400,000 thanks to the Britannia Stakes, which held at Royal Ascot in June.
Along with Prostate Cancer UK, Marie Curie and Care Radio, they will receive a share of £1.25m after BGC members agreed to donate all of their profits from the flagship race.
Betting and Gaming Council members Flutter (Paddy Power, Betfair, Sky Bet), bet365, Entain (Ladbrokes, Coral), William Hill, Kindred (Unibet), BetVictor, Betway, Rank Group (Grosvenor Sport), AnzoGroup (Livescore Bet and Virgin Bet) and 888 all took part.
In recognition of the charity initiative, BGC chief executive Michael Dugher will receive a glass triptych titled “Battle Through The Looking Glass” from Brigadier Peter Walker OBE, who is representing the three Armed Forces charities, at Ascot on Saturday.
The meeting’s 2.40 race has also been named the ABF/BGC Cumberland Lodge Stakes to mark the occasion.
The triptych, which depicts a variety of battle scenes, was crafted by Professor Martin Parsons and Peter Cox of Glasbeards.
Brigadier Walker said: “The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund were delighted to be chosen by the Betting and Gaming Council and its members as beneficiaries of their most generous donations made to charities during Royal Ascot this year.
“The three charities provide lifetime support to members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families in times of need. The substantial donations made by the Council will be very much appreciated to assist with this task.”
Michael Dugher said: “I am extremely proud to be receiving this award on behalf of the BGC and all of our members who donated their profits from this year’s Britannia Stakes.
“It’s fantastic that thanks to their magnificent gesture, some of the country’s most-deserving charities will share in £1.25m – money which help them as they carry out their important work.
“I’d like to thank the Armed Forces charities for this wonderful award and I wish them and all the other charities the very best for the future.”
