Betting and Gaming Council Calls for Grand National Delay Until Betting Shops Reopen

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) in the UK has called for the Grand National event to be delayed until betting shops can reopen.

This comes after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed that non-essential retail, which includes betting shops, could be allowed to reopen from April 12.

BGC claims that delaying the event will provide a boost to the retail betting shops that were forced to close during the pandemic.

An estimated £125 million is traditionally staked on the world-famous race by millions of punters – with nearly half of all bets being placed in high street betting shops, making it their busiest day of the year.

Figures also show that the money staked on the Grand National in betting shops is worth an extra £1million in levy payments for racing.

But if betting shops remain shuttered when the race takes place, much of this money will not be staked at all, depriving racing of much-needed funding and the opportunity to promote racing to the widest audience possible.

Many customers only visit a betting shop once a year for their annual flutter on the National and will simply choose not to place a bet online.

Michael Dugher, chief executive of the BGC, said: “Delaying the Grand National until betting shops are open is definitely an idea worth exploring.

“I appreciate that this is not without its challenges, but we are willing to do all we can to help iron out any difficulties.

“Ensuring that the once-a-year punters are able to pop in to their local bookies to have a flutter, supporting their local high street, on the world’s most famous horse race would also help make the Grand National a truly national celebration as we begin to reopen the economy. And it would ensure that we engage as many people as possible in this great British event, showcasing the fabulous sport of racing.

“This would also provide a much-needed and timely boost for racing and the high street after such a torrid year for both.”