BGC claims regulated industry will generate 15,000 tech jobs in next five years

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has suggested that Britain’s regulated betting and gaming industry will generate 15,000 tech jobs in the next five years as part of an ambitious Levelling Up agenda.

This figure comes following a new report by the Purpose Coalition, which helps companies and organisations to set up and assess Levelling Up goals. Its members include Amazon, the BBC, BP and Cisco.

When measured against these standards, the report found that the UK gambling industry exceeded expectations in key areas such as creating high skilled jobs and investing in the communities the companies operate in.

The report also predicts that many of these new jobs will be based outside London due to current global trends for the businesses in the industry based in the UK.

The online betting, gaming and bingo industry directly employs 10,000 tech jobs and supports another 30,000 roles. Nearly two-thirds of all posts are already based outside of London, with 20,000 based in the West Midlands.

Stoke-on-Trent, home to bet365 and described by the BGC as a tech powerhouse, employs 4,000 people, while Leeds, where Sky Bet is based, boasts a headcount of 1,700.

Indeed, Leeds has been heralded as one of the few northern cities to boost job creation by the end of 2023 in an article by The Guardian. The city has been a breeding ground for talent in the tech industry and could be the epicentre of this industry-wide job boom.

Michael Dugher, CEO of the BGC, said: “The report has given the BGC a framework to help further deliver meaningful and measurable progress so that we become more outward-looking and ensure our members contribute to every corner of the UK.

“Our members are global leaders in the betting and gaming industry, with the online betting, gaming and bingo sector now on track to deliver another 15,000 high paid, high-skilled jobs.”

Dugher also used this report to throw a jab at those regulating the industry. He commented: “The only thing that risks that growth will be poorly conceived regulations that hamper business and threaten jobs.”

Jo Gideon, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, added: “I welcome the latest report from the Purpose Coalition which underlines how the betting and gaming industry is leading the levelling-up agenda across the UK.

“BGC members, such as bet365 in Stoke-on-Trent, are providing high skilled, good quality jobs that provide excellent long term career opportunities for families across the area.”

In addition to new roles, members have pledged to create 5,000 apprenticeships in the industry by 2025 and a further £20m on training programmes for staff members. Members have also committed to empowering their employees through diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Lord Walney, chair of the Purpose Business Coalition, said: “This analysis highlights the positive economic and social contribution made by members of the Betting and Gaming Council who are sustaining well paid high-tech jobs in several communities that are the focus of the government’s levelling up drive.

“The geographic spread of betting and gaming companies, their presence on most of our local high streets and the integral links the sector has with vital sporting events, give BGC members an important role to play in levelling up the UK,” Walney concluded.

The BGC says the UK’s regulated gambling sector supports 119,000 jobs and generates £4.5bn in taxes each year for state coffers.