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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
UK gambling industry launches summer charm offensive to head off tax rise
Gambling lobbyists are staging a summer charm offensive designed to stop ministers from raising taxes on the sector, the Guardian has learned, including meeting with Treasury insiders and hosting a darts evening with Labour special advisers and MPs' staff. The Treasury is considering whether to simplify the various rates of duty applied to gambling products, a measure that the £11.5bn-a-year sector fears would increase its overall tax bill. The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC), whose members include high street bookmakers and online casinos, is understood to have outlined its objections in a submission to the Treasury, based on a report written for the trade body by the accounting firm EY. But the BGC has also embarked on a back-channel lobbying push, according to emails sent to its members and seen by the Guardian. In at least one case, a social event was promoted to Labour staff directly by the Labour Staff Network (LSN), offering them the opportunity to attend and hear speeches. The event was a darts-themed evening, hosted by BGC and Flutter plc, the owner of Paddy Power, Betfair and SkyBet, an event the trade body said would help it 'continue building constructive engagement across Westminster'. At the event, more than 100 Labour staff and ministerial special advisers heard an address from the BGC chief executive Grainne Hurst, a former Ladbrokes executive and one-time aide to the former Conservative MP Philip Davies, who has railed against tax increases. The social at the end of June was promoted via the LSN, which is run by and for the staff of Labour MPs and is independent of party HQ. It was held in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK. A Flutter UKI spokesperson said: 'The Labour staffers event was a great opportunity for us to talk about our 'Big 180' partnership with Prostate Cancer UK – built around the World Darts Championship – which has so far encouraged 350,000 men to check out their risk of developing the disease.' As part of the charm offensive, the BGC's chair, the former Labour MP Michael Dugher, met Katie Martin, the chief of staff to Rachel Reeves, and was also 'in touch' with the chancellor herself, according to the emails. A source close to Reeves said she had no formal meeting with the BGC and would not ever have discussed the tax changes. Senior BGC figures also told members in emails that they had briefed Labour MPs including Jo Platt, Gareth Snell and Adam Jogee on tax, as well as meeting the sports minister Stephanie Peacock – who is Dugher's successor in his former Barnsley East seat. The emails said Dugher also met the special adviser to the government's chief whip, shortly after the bruising defeat on the welfare reform bill. They say BGC representatives attended a campaign fundraiser event for Labour's business champion Gregor Poynton MP and Imogen Walker, the parliamentary private secretary to Reeves, attended by the prime minister's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who is Walker's husband, and the UK's ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson. The BCG also hosted events for the Tories, sponsoring the inaugural Conservatives in Sports drinks reception, addressed by the shadow culture minister, Stuart Andrew, and attended by the shadow gambling minister, Louie French, and the chair of the DCMS select committee, Caroline Dinenage. A BGC spokesperson said: 'It is entirely common and appropriate for trade bodies like the BGC to routinely meet with ministers, shadow ministers and MPs as well as officials and advisers across government. All donations and hospitality are consistent with the parliamentary and other rules and are fully declared and transparent. 'Ministers have been clear in public and in parliament that they would be meeting with the relevant stakeholders as part of the consultation on tax harmonisation proposals. That includes the BGC, which represents companies employing over 100,000 people and a sector enjoyed safely by millions of customers each month. 'The BGC also recently met with the minister leading the tax consultation, James Murray, as would be expected as part of any government consultation on measures which would impact businesses and customers.' It comes as the Treasury considers raising tax on the sector to help Reeves shore up the UK's ailing public finances. The industry took £15.6bn from British punters last year, of which £11.5bn went to betting and gaming organisations and the remainder to the national lottery and other lotteries. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion A number of Labour MPs are pushing to toughen up the government's approach to gambling – despite longstanding links of party veterans to the industry. Those who have joined the all-party parliamentary group on gambling include new MPs Beccy Cooper, Sarah Coombes, Alex Ballinger and Andrew Pakes. The MP Dawn Butler, who intends to run for mayor of London, and the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, have also been pushing to hand more power to councils to block the spread of 24-hour slot machine venues. Butler launched a campaign on Wednesday to stop the spread of high street betting shops, saying her own borough of Brent in north-west London had at least 102 venues, including betting shops, casinos, and adult gaming centres. 'Nearly one person a day dies by suicide linked to gambling addiction. This is a public health crisis, and it's time our planning laws reflect that and stop these gambling companies preying on communities that are often vulnerable and deprived,' she said. Butler has submitted a parliamentary motion, calling for legislative changes to the Gambling Act 2005 to give local authorities greater power to refuse new gambling premises where there is clear evidence of community harm – especially as these venues are being targeted in areas of deprivation. Gambling companies are projected to pay £3.6bn in duties this year, of which £1.2bn is 'remote gaming duty', a tax of 21% applied to online gambling. A further £713m is 'general betting duty' paid by high street bookmakers at a lower rate of 15%. One option under consideration is to harmonise the two rates. This has met vehement opposition from the horse-racing industry, which fears the impact on a sport whose finances are already under severe pressure. Senior figures from racing have made this case personally in a meeting with Reeves, according to one industry source. Some in racing are understood to have made clear they would not object to much higher taxes on online casino products, as long as the sport is left untouched. Several gambling industry sources said this could result in taxes on online gaming products, such as casino games and digital slot machines, being raised from 21% to as much as 35%. The Social Market Foundation (SMF) thinktank is preparing a report on how much could be raised by adjusting gambling taxes, putting forward several scenarios. At last year's budget, the Treasury considered but ultimately rejected a proposal from the SMF that would have doubled taxes on the most harmful gambling products to 41%.
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Racing stars back Betting and Gaming Council's campaign against sports betting tax hike
RACING presenter Frankie Foster and former jockey Tom Scudamore have joined a campaign warning the Government that a proposed betting tax hike could harm British sport and push punters towards illegal gambling sites. The pair have teamed up with the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) in a new social media campaign urging ministers to rethink the plans. Find The Sun's betting publishing principles here 1 Foster, a former Love Island contestant turned racing presenter, said: 'Betting is a major part of race day. Without it, racing wouldn't survive. BGC members contribute around £350million a year to keep the sport going.' The Government is currently holding a consultation on plans to change how online betting and gaming is taxed. Right now, sports betting and online gaming are taxed differently. But the new proposal could combine them into one tax - something experts say could mean higher costs for betting companies and, ultimately, punters. The BGC argues this could drive gamblers away from safe, regulated sites to the black market, where there are no consumer protections or tax payments. Tom Scudamore, whose family has been involved in racing for generations, warned: 'Punters know the deal - push them too hard and they won't stop betting. They'll just turn to the unregulated black market, leaving racing in the lurch.' BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst added: 'Higher betting taxes could hit the lifeblood of British sport. The Government must think again before it inflicts lasting damage on sport and the wider economy.' A recent YouGov poll for the BGC found that 65% of regular bettors think higher taxes would push more people towards unsafe gambling sites. Another BGC-commissioned study found that 1.5m Brits are already gambling with unlicensed operators, risking up to £4.3billion a year. These illegal sites do not pay tax or contribute to sport, and often target vulnerable people. Currently, BGC members support over 100,000 jobs, generate £6.8billion for the economy, and pay £4 billion in tax. They also provide millions in funding for sports, including £350m a year to British racing and £40m to the English Football League. Other sports like darts, rugby league and snooker also benefit. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
CTV News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Boys and Girls Club of London gifted $20,000
The Boys and Girls Club of London (BGC London) has been given $20,000 from Canada Life and Oak View Group. The money was given to the group to continue supporting youth in the community, offering kids safe, enriching, and transformative programming. Staff, community leaders, and Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Damian Warner were there for the presentation. BGC London cheque presentation Damian Warner plays alongside kids with the Boys and Girls Club of London. (Source: Canada Life) 'Growing up in London, I actually learned how to play basketball at BGC London and that passion for sport kicked off a lifelong journey,' said Warner. 'But I also learned the value of community, which has been equally important. Enjoying the decathlon-inspired activities and connecting with the kids was really special. I want every camper at BGC London to know that by working hard, believing in yourself, and engaging in the community, you can go further than you ever imagined.' The donation marked the first of BGC London's 70th anniversary campaign. 'At Canada Life, we believe every child and youth deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and excel,' said Fabrice Morin, president and COO of Canada Life. 'This gift reflects our commitment to help young people reach their full potential and build a future full of promise.'
Business Wire
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
BGC Group to Report Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results on July 31, 2025
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BGC Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: BGC) will announce its second quarter 2025 financial results on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at approximately 8:00 a.m. ET. A conference call to review the results will follow at 10:00 a.m. ET. BGC plans to issue an advisory press release regarding the availability of its consolidated quarterly financial results at approximately 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, July 31, 2025, which will be accessible at BGC will host a conference call on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET for investors. Participants may join the webcast by accessing the link at or directly at Participants can pre-register for the conference call and also listen to a replay at About BGC Group, Inc. BGC Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: BGC) is a leading global marketplace, data, and financial technology services company for a broad range of products, including fixed income, foreign exchange, energy, commodities, shipping, equities, and now includes the FMX Futures Exchange. BGC's clients are many of the world's largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, and investment firms. BGC and leading global investment banks and market making firms have partnered to create FMX, part of the BGC Group of companies, which includes a U.S. interest rate futures exchange, spot foreign exchange platform and the world's fastest growing U.S. cash treasuries platform. For more information about BGC, please visit Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements about BGC Statements in this document regarding BGC that are not historical facts are 'forward-looking statements' that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include statements about the Company's business, results, financial position, liquidity and outlook, which may constitute forward-looking statements and are subject to the risk that the actual impact may differ, possibly materially, from what is currently expected. Except as required by law, BGC undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see BGC's Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information set forth in these filings and any updates to such risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information contained in subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K.
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GMA Network
02-07-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
More Filipinos turn to backyard farming for daily food needs, DOH study shows
More Filipino households are choosing to grow their own food through backyard gardening and small-scale animal raising, according to the Department of Health's 2024 Health Promotion Longitudinal Study. According to the study, a growing number of Filipinos prefer to source their daily meals from homegrown vegetables and home-raised livestock, reflecting a shift toward healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. With this, the health department is promoting simple and practical ways for families to start their own backyard farms, emphasizing that even small home spaces can be transformed into productive and nutritious gardens. 'Gawing isang luntiang tahanan ang iyong bahay na puno ng masustansyang halaman,'the agency said in its health promotion post on Facebook. (Make your home a green and healthy space.) To help households begin their own food gardens, the DOH recommends choosing an area that meets the following conditions: Receives full sunlight throughout the day Has a reliable water source and well-drained soil Enjoys good air circulation Has fertile soil suitable for planting The health department has been supporting community- and home-based gardening efforts as part of its wider campaign to improve food security, promote healthy eating habits, and build resilience against rising food costs and supply disruptions. Backyard gardening also supports the DOH's push for preventive health care, as access to fresh, chemical-free produce has been linked to lower risks of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Meanwhile, community-based gardening efforts like BGC's urban farm and a Tondo community turning an idle soccer field into a vegetable farm, continue to rise in popularity. In 2024, Quezon City even started offering land tax exemptions to encourage urban farms. Just a word of warning if you want to start your backyard farming: Make sure to have thorough post-harvest processing to avoid risk of presence in your harvest. — LA, GMA Integrated News
