BGC agrees 20-point marketing code for Virtual Grand National betting

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has revealed a 20-point code of conduct for the promotion of Saturday’s Virtual Grand National.

Member firms will not advertise the race, either through TV, newspaper, online ads or paid search, and the event will not be mentioned on social media, except to existing account followers. In addition, all promotion of the race by affiliates is similarly prohibited.

However, the Virtual Grand National can be advertised to the operators’ existing customer base via customer relationship managers and onsite banners, while BGC members have committed to increasing the prominence of safer gambling messaging.

Under the code, all betting exchanges are barred from offering markets on the race, with all specialised bets including RequestABet similarly prohibited. All trading on the race, including reducing or increasing odds, is not permitted.

Member firms have been restricted to offering the fixed prices published initially by Inspired when the list of runners was revealed and can only allow £10 to win or £10 each way maximum bets.

In addition, BGC members will not offer free bets or bonuses on the race, with no additional markets or forecast/tricast prices being offered.

All profits after operator costs and duties are accounted for will be donated to the NHS Charities Together organisation.

Operators will also be required to display a separate donation link on their websites and to highlight the result will be determined by an independent random number generator (RNG).

The Virtual Grand National takes place on Saturday at 5.15pm and will be screened on ITV.