BETTING AND GAMING COUNCIL's Grand National charity bet campaign has raised THOUSANDS for good causes across the UK.
A record 58 parliamentarians – including Defence Secretary Rt Hon John Healey MP and seven Ministers – took part,
Shadow Gambling Minister Louie French, Culture Media and Sport Select Committee member James Frith and Deputy Speaker Caroline Nokes were some of those to take part.
While visiting, MPs spoke with staff to hear about the range of safer gambling measures available to customers in stores.
Of course the race was dominated by training maestro Willie Mullins but it was one of his outsiders
The biggest operators across the UK – including Ladbrokes, Coral, William Hill, Betfred or Paddy Power in the MP's constituency – are set to hand over all winnings to the MPs’ charity of choice.
Despite 58 chances at it, NONE of the bets were placed on the eventual winner.
However, Labour MP Mike Reader and Conservative MPs Sir Christopher Chope and Ashley Fox all backed fifth placed Meetingofthewaters each way.
Backing losers doesn't mean the charities miss out entirely, though.
BGC members pledged to support good causes even if the MPs’ horses didn’t win, with £250 donated to each charity selected.
Amongst some of the charities to benefit are Parkinson’s UK, with local good causes like the East Durham Veterans Trust and Ryedale Special Families in North Yorkshire.
Grainne Hurst, the BGC’s Chief Executive, said: “It’s been a fantastic record-breaking year for our Charity Bet with 58 parliamentarians taking part from right across the political divide.
“Millions of people enjoyed a bet on the race showing once again that, for so many of us, having a flutter is a part of our great British culture.
“I visited a number of betting shops in recent weeks and I want to pay tribute to all the thousands of people who work in them to help support our hard-pressed high streets. I would like to thank all those MPs who took part for supporting so many good causes. I would also like to thank all of our members for once again getting behind this great initiative”;.
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 – gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware –GambleAware.org
Read our guide on .
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
