Betting and Gaming Council welcomes new Labour government after landslide

Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) chair Michael Dugher has welcomed a landside general election win for Labour, saying he is looking forward to working with the new government to drive economic growth in the industry and further improve safer gambling standards.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) will today (5 July) become the UK’s new prime minister after his party won yesterday’s general election. With almost all votes counted, Labour currently has 412 seats, far beyond the 326 required for a majority. 

BGC chief Dugher, a Labour MP from 2010 to 2017, said he sees the result as good news for the industry. He notes that in its manifesto, Labour committed to driving up standards on responsible gambling and the UK industry’s reputation. 

“The BGC had long treated Labour as a government in waiting,” Dugher said. “We have been working closely with shadow ministers in recent years, on behalf of our members and their millions of customers. 

“Our work to drive up standards and champion a world leading British industry carries on and we look forward to partnering with Labour – as they have pledged – in this vitally important work.”

BGC keen to continue white paper work with Labour

After work began to implement reforms set out in the Gambling Act white paper, which was finally published last April, Dugher says he expects Labour to continue work started under the Tories.

“BGC members are currently in the midst of the biggest regulatory changes in a generation following the publication of the white paper, which Labour supported,” Dugher said.

“Much of this work will carry on now the election is complete. Our members have the much-needed political certainty they need to plan and invest for a sustainable future.

“The BGC and our members remain committed to working with Labour to implement the evidence-based, proportionate, regulatory changes outlined in the white paper, ensuring those measures get the balance right between protecting the vulnerable, while allowing the vast majority of punters who enjoying betting responsibly to continue doing so without unnecessary intrusion.”