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The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has extended congratulations to Lisa Nandy MP on her appointment as Secretary of State of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom (DCMS) and pledged collaboration to enhance economic growth and gambling standards.
Alongside Nandy, Stephanie Peacock MP has also joined DCMS as Parliamentary Under-Secretary.
BGC Chair Michael Dugher emphasized the industry’s support, noting the 110,000 jobs and 22.5 million monthly bettors it represents. He also welcomed Nandy’s commitment to grassroots sports, highlighting ongoing investments and community engagement.
Nandy’s initial plans include continued funding for sports facilities and enabling local clubs to manage pitches, reflecting her desire to help integrate sport into local communities.
Commenting on this, Nandy said: “For too long, too many people in many parts of the UK have not seen their lives, their families, or their communities reflected in the story that we tell ourselves as a nation about ourselves and that I think has fed this real sense of alienation from governments, this sense of anger and division.
“We found multiple ways to divide ourselves from one another in recent decades and it’s been bad for our country, bad for our communities. So whether it’s through investing in grassroots sport, or whether it’s through opening up opportunities in media, film, dance and drama to working-class kids in communities like Bolton and Bury, that is going to be the mission and the work of our Government.”
Michael Dugher added: “I am delighted to welcome Lisa Nandy to her new position as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
“Betting has long been a part of working-class culture for many people – from bingo halls to betting shops – and our mission-critical support for great traditionally sports like rugby league, darts, snooker and lower league football is well known.”
