Local MP, Caroline Dinenage, visited her local Ladbrokes in Stoke Road Gosport, to place a £50 charity bet on the 2023 Grand National, with all the winnings going to Sophie’s Legacy! And even if her horse doesn’t come in, BGC members will be making a donation to their nominated charity, ensuring they don’t miss out.
The Grand National is the most popular horse race in the world and this year takes place on Saturday 15th April. It is watched by an around 600 million people across 140 countries, and it is estimated over 13m adults in the UK will be placing a bet on it.
Betting shops support 42,000 jobs on the UK’s hard-pressed high streets, contribute £800 million a year in tax to the Treasury and another £60m in business rates to local councils. Meanwhile, a study by ESA Retail found that 89 per cent of betting shop customers combine their trip to the bookies with visits to other local businesses.
The charity supported by this bet, Sophie’s Legacy, was launched by Stubbington constituent Charlotte whose daughter, Sophie, tragically passed away from Rhabdomyosarcoma in September 2021, at the age of 10. Since then, Charlotte, from Stubbington, has been working alongside Caroline to campaign for a Childhood Cancer Mission, which includes things Sophie would have liked to see during her treatment. Cancer is the biggest cause of death for children under the age of 14 and diagnosis frequently comes too late.
Caroline said:
"The Grand National is one of those great sporting moments when the whole nation comes together. I was delighted to visit my local betting shop to meet the staff and customers, take Ladbrokes up on their generous offer of a charity bet and also discuss the important work they have been doing to make gambling safer.
Betting shops create employment and support our local economy through business rates contributions. And for regulars, they provide a community. I was delighted to visit and hear more about their place in our area.”
Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, stated:
"Millions of people, from all different backgrounds, will be coming together to watch the Grand National and place a bet on the world’s most famous horserace. Betting shops support tens of thousands of jobs, bring vital revenue to the UK’s hard-pressed high streets and support the national and local economies through tax and business rates. They also provide community to millions of betting and gaming fans.
I also want to say a huge thanks to all MPs, including Caroline, who have made the time and effort to meet with their local constituents working in high street shops, for backing so many good causes and local charities, and for promoting the Grand National which remains one of Britain’s biggest and best cultural and sporting events seen around the world”.
The Betting and Gaming Council, the standards body for the regulated UK betting and gaming industry, invited MPs to visit either a Paddy Power, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral, Betfred or independent betting shop in their constituency to place their charity bet ahead of the world’s greatest steeplechase.
According to industry research conducted by the Betting and Gaming Council approximately £250m will be staked on the main event. The Grand National is expected to generate £3m in tax revenues for the Treasury and £2m in horse racing levy to support the sport.
