The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has highlighted the industry’s social responsibility initiatives and its extensive economic contribution towards football.

Expressing how over 30 million people in the UK every year ‘enjoy a flutter’, the standards body emphasised the industry’s support for football, whilst also detailing protection measures introduced – particularly aimed at younger audiences – in a recnet video on its Twitter page.

Highlighting a recent remark made by Gambling Minister, John Whittingdale MP, the BGC emphasised that academic studies have supported the view that there is little connection between betting and gambling advertising – such as sports sponsorships – and gambling related harm.

“Research does not establish a causal link between exposure to gambling advertising and the development of problem gambling,” Whittingdale remarked, addressing the House of Commons last week.

The BGC also identified some of the key directives introduced to combat problem gambling, including a whistle ban on TV advertising during live sport before 9pm, and delivering a 97% reduction in the number of TV betting commercials seen by children at that time, along with new social media rules for clubs to further protect young people.

Furthermore, the organisation has initiated ‘a crackdown on under-18s viewing betting ads online,’ and introduced ‘tough new social media rules’ for sports clubs to follow to protect young people’.

The video also documents the betting and gaming industry’s financial support for football, from the grassroots to the elite, highlighting examples such as bet365’s investment in local community initiatives in Stoke, conducted on top of being owners of local club Stoke City FC of the EFL Championship.

Additionally, the video also featured a statement from the English Football League (EFL), detailing the significant economic contribution the betting and gaming industry makes to various levels of the English football pyramid.

“With over £40 million a season paid by the sector to the League and its Clubs, the significant contribution betting companies make to the ongoing financial stability of professional football at all levels is as important as it’s ever been,” the EFL statement read.

The link between the betting and gaming industry and both professional and amateur sports has been repeatedly highlighted by the BGC.

Earlier this year, the group stressed the importance of the betting sector’s financial support for sports, detailing how on top of the aforementioned £40 million contribution to football, the industry also generates over £10 million to darts and snooker and more than £2.5 million for rugby league.

More significantly, the sport of horse racing benefits from over £350 million through sponsorship, media rights and betting levy payments.