Greyhound Protection Receives £3 Million from Bookmakers
A group of prominent British bookmakers have pledged to enhance the well-being of greyhounds by supporting the London-based Greyhound Racing Association (BGRF) with an additional 3 million pounds (approximately 3.4 million euros) in 2019. The agreement, which took effect at the beginning of the year, includes major industry players, such as SkyBet, The Stars Group, Betfred, Ladbrokes Coral, Paddy Power Betfair, and William Hill, as well as the billion-euro private firm Bet365.
Managing Director of the BGRF, Joe Scanlon, explained that the racing association's financial resources will rise to 10 million pounds (around 11.3 million euros) due to this increase, bringing them close to their funding targets for the current year. The funds will majority go towards hiring more veterinary staff, injury profiling and rehabilitation of greyhounds, with plans for new training programs as well.
The BGRF is also in close collaboration with the charity GBGB (Greyhound Board of Great Britain) and the British organization Greyhound Trust; together, they enable around 4,000 greyhounds to find new homes every year following their retirement from racing due to age or injury. Additionally, the money will be put towards safety upgrades at the 21 licensed racecourses in the UK, including enhancements to kennels, air conditioning systems, and trainer vehicles. Notably, these investments are considered highly crucial. The Board of GBGB's Managing Director, Mark Bird, expressed his gratitude for the support in the following manner:
"At GBGB, we have clearly identified where the new money needs to be invested. We are thankful for the assistance to maintain our Greyhound standards and initiatives, not just during their racing careers but also during their transition to their new homes post-retirement from the sport."
The agreement has garnered the endorsement of the UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). Sports Minister Mims Davies, in office since last November, issued a statement expressing her backing:
"Greyhound racing is the sixth most popular sport in the UK, so the welfare and care of all racing dogs, from registration through to retirement, are crucial factors in securing the future success of the sport. Therefore, I am thrilled to have brokered agreement with leading betting operators to uphold the welfare of the Greyhounds."
Minister Davies additionally called upon all other UK bookmakers to sign up to the voluntary funding agreement, expressing her gratitude to the major bookmakers for their ongoing support of the fund:
"The novel deal wouldn't be possible without the assistance of the Minister, her team, and the DCMS. For many years, they have devoted themselves to improving the well-being of our Greyhounds. We also wish to express our appreciation to the major bookmakers for their continuous support of our fund."
The UK's bookmakers' association, the ABB (Association of British Bookmakers), has also expressed its support for the Greyhound initiative, emphasizing that the protection of animals is a "top priority to maintain industry integrity" and pointing out the longstanding and robust relationship between greyhound racing and the betting sector. The ABB's representative underscored that the hike in funding marks "the start of a long-term, strategic plan" aimed at providing enhanced security on the race tracks, training for vets, and homes for retired Greyhounds.
Since the introduction of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations in 2010, the UK government has been promoting self-regulation within the greyhound racing industry.
The deal requires British bookmakers to contribute 0.6% of their online profits from wagering on greyhound races in the UK. This started in early January. The money goes towards protecting the dogs. The British DEFRA, or Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, monitors this process silently. They say that the industry is following all the guidelines. In fact, the current voluntary efforts of suppliers are not just meeting, but even surpassing, these expectations.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
