Group sites

Search for a
shop near you

Search
Menu
Customers

In March 2020, the exceptional circumstances of a UK national lockdown meant live sport was cancelled and concerns were expressed that customers would turn to online gaming products

Although gambling overall fell during the first lockdown, due to an absence of sport and the closure of betting shops, we worked proactively with the BGC and other operators to establish a comprehensive set of pledges, set out below, to ensure that the highest customer safeguards were in place. Action was taken immediately to protect any customers betting online who might be more vulnerable as a result of the crisis.

This included actively promoting deposit limits, increasing safer gambling messaging (over 3.5m player safety messages were sent between April and June 2020), restricting and blocking accounts where necessary, and taking action to ensure responsible advertising.

Despite the easing of lockdown measures during the summer, William Hill continued to operate in line with the Covid-19 pledges and these were reaffirmed by the BGC in early November as England entered a second lockdown.

The Virtual Grand National

 

April 2020’s Grand National was cancelled at the start of lockdown but the virtual race, held on the same day and broadcast live on ITV, was watched by five million people. Stakes were capped at £10 and our profits and that of other operators (members of the BGC) were donated to NHS Charities Together. The 18/1 shot Potters Corner won the race, with BGC members raising £2.9m for NHS Charities Together as a result.

 

Covid-19 Betting and Gaming Council 10-Pledge Action Plan


10 pledges to enhance safer gambling action for consumer protection and responsible marketing in response to the crisis:

  1. Increase safer gambling messages across all sites and direct to all customers with a minimum of 20% Safer Gambling (SG) advertising.
  2. Step up interventions if customers increase time and spend beyond normal pre-crisis patterns.
  3. Actively promote deposit limits.
  4. Take action to ensure appropriate and responsible advertising.
  5. Report all illegal, rogue advertising from black market online operators.
  6. Implement a one-strike-and-you’re-out policy where affiliates breach pledges.
  7. Sign-post help to GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline and GAMSTOP for self-exclusion.
  8. Commit to ensuring funding for research, prevention and treatment (RPT).
  9. Provide additional welfare checks and well-being help for staff.
  10. Support the UK Government’s ‘national effort’ with volunteers and facilities.