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Last Saturday saw record figures in viewers and bets as the Grand National ran its 174th race at Aintree racecourse in Merseyside.The betting and Gaming Council invited local MP’s to visit their local constituency’s betting shops including Paddy Power, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral, or any independent betting outlet, and place a bet on the famous Grand National race. In return, betting shops promised to hand out all winnings accrued from MP’s bets over to UK Charities.
Grand National Winner
As it turned out, amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen romped home on 50-1 outsider Noble Yeats owned by Sam’s father. The race was to be Sam’s last after announcing his retirement from the sport. After the success of the Grand National nominated charities will each receive £250, as all the bookies involved in the charitable event increased the donations.Head of the BGC Michael Dugher commented, “Yet again the Grand National delivered a brilliant race enjoyed by millions of punters across the UK.“Betting shops are a huge employer and do so much to support hard-pressed high street and local economies, it was great to see MP’s from across the political divide visiting bookies across the country all in aid of good causes.“The past weekend was a showcase for horse racing and betting. We want the government to recognise the popularity of betting, its unique place in our culture, and ensure they address punter’s concerns over extra checks and protect jobs in the upcoming White Paper.”
13 Million Bets Placed
This year the Grand National commanded huge audiences not only at the event but across TV and betting shops. It’s estimated in the UK more than 7.5 million people viewed the event live on TV, 600 million globally, and an estimated 13 million bets were placed. This was the first time in three years bookies were open to taking bets after the pandemic forced the closure of bookies and retail stores.