Bookies to donate Britannia profits to Covid-19 and cancer charities

Britain's biggest bookmakers are to donate all their profits from the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday to Covid-19 and cancer charities.

Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) members, including Paddy Power Betfair, bet365, Ladbrokes, Coral, William Hill, Sky Bet, Betway, BetVictor, Kindred Group, Grosvenor Sport, Virgin Bet, Fitzdares,
GentingBet and JenningsBet will hand over all profits made from win and each-way bets (after levy and duties are deducted) on the Britannia Stakes, due to be run at 4.10pm.

Britannia Stakes card and betting

The money raised will be given to Prostate Cancer UK, Marie Curie, The Care Workers' Charity and the Berkshire Community Foundation Coronavirus Fund.

The move follows the huge success of the virtual Grand National in April that raised nearly £3 million for NHS Charities Together after BGC members agreed to donate all of the profits they made from the race.

Sir Anthony McCoy, 20-time champion jump jockey and William Hill ambassador, said: "Betting operators have done a lot to help the national effort in tackling the coronavirus, and this is another good initiative that will hopefully result in big donations to some wonderful charities. It has my full support."

Bookmakers raised nearly £3 million for charity through April's Virtual Grand National

Ed Chamberlin, who is anchoring ITV Racing’s Royal Ascot coverage, said: “Just like the Virtual Grand National, this is another example of the power of the racing family and how the sport can be a force for good. I hope lots of money is raised for such good causes.”

The betting operators have guaranteed to underwrite a donation of at least £250,000 regardless of the result of the big-field handicap.

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