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Betfred owners, Fred and Peter Done are facing fierce criticism after it was revealed they are making millions on the back of another co-owned business, Health Assured. The company was set up to help staff in the public sector who are suffering with mental health issues, depression and gambling problems.
Done Brothers Own Both Companies
The Done brothers co-founded the Betfred brand, which is one of the biggest in the UK and turned over a whooping £728million in 2019. Both companies are separate but both owned by the Done brothers.According to the Guardian, the brothers have taken £5.2 million in dividends from Health Assured over the past three years.Claire Murdoch, NHS medical Chief wrote to various betting companies this week including Betfred, encouraging them to improve their practices, speaking of the Done’s joint owned company involved in addiction services she said it was ‘ hypocrisy and tokenism’. She has urged people in the public sector who have problems with addiction, depression or mental health issues to seek help from NHS clinics rather than Health Assured.
Urged To Take More Responsibility
Comments voiced by Claire Murdoch come just days after she wrote letters to gambling firms urging them to take more responsibilities around problem gamblers, and the NHS should not be responsible for picking up the pieces after incentives including VIP gifts, free tickets, bonuses and cash incentives are offered to players, who clearly have a gambling problem.Health Secretary, John Ashcroft also said that NHS staff should have access to mental and wellbeing support. Gambling companies should be nowhere near health services like these.A Health Assured spokesperson said, “ Due to the sensitive nature of the employee counselling service that Health Assured offer, we are unable to provide confidential details concerning clients.“ All public sector contracts we have been awarded have through due diligence carried out before they are issued, including looking for conflicts of interest.”Although both companies are separate, one is a gambling company and one a gambling addiction company which seems a little ironic. When asked about conflict of interest the Done brothers have yet to comment.