English Football League Kicks Off with BGC Commitment to Safer Betting

With the reanimation of sporting fixtures around the world, there has been a renewed focus on the integrity of sporting franchises and on ensuring that the same attention that is given to safer gambling protocols at casinos are adhered to when it comes to online betting.

The same is true of the regulated UK gambling market which is looking forward to the new business generated by the upcoming football season while also being keenly aware of the challenges it may bring.

 BGC Stands Resolute

With the advent of the English Football League, this weekend, and the Premier League a week later the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has promised to “maintain the momentum” it achieved with regards to protecting the youth and promoting safer betting standards.

Michael Dugher, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), said:

“The start of the new football season is an exciting time for fans across the country. Around 30 million people in Britain – half the population – enjoy a flutter, and the vast majority do so safely. According to the Government, the rate of problem gambling is 0.5 per cent and has been stable for the past 20 years. But one problem gambler is one too many, so we will step up our work on protecting young people and providing help for those experiencing harm.”

The BGC will be looking to build on the success of the 2019 ban on whistle-to-whistle TV betting commercials, which were shown to have reduced children’s access to gambling advertising by up to 97% during the football season.

Proactive Betting Restrictions

Rather than waiting for problems to arise the Betting and Gaming Council along with its member proactively introduced several safeguards ahead of the launch of the new football season.

These include:

• Football clubs not being allowed to Tweet out links to gambling sites.
• Football clubs are not allowed to Tweet about gambling bonuses and betting odds.
• No betting logos are allowed on children’s sized jerseys and kits.

In addition to these practical social media limitations, members of the regulated betting and gaming industry have committed to providing financial support to the sports through donations, sponsorship deals and advertising campaigns.

There will also be an additional £40 million war chest made available to the English Football League and its clubs to help them meet their financial and social obligations while the industry regains its feet.