Anti-gambling campaigners have called on the Commons speaker to apologise after Sir Lindsay Hoyle opened Betfred’s multimillion-pound new HQ with a dedicated plaque.
The Betfred HQ in Warrington was opened by Hoyle at the end of last month, 20 miles outside his Chorley constituency.
In a statement at the time of the opening, Betfred said it was in Hoyle’s capacity as president of the Rugby Football League, where the gambling company is a long-term partner.
But the plaque installed at the company’s HQ only references Hoyle’s role as speaker of the Commons, a strictly non-partisan role.
The House of Commons said Hoyle visited Betfred in his capacity as RFL president only – despite what the plaque states – and declined to comment further.
Will Prochaska, a campaigner for gambling reform, said: “Lindsay Hoyle’s decision to help wash the reputation of Betfred, who were fined £3.25m last year for irresponsible behaviour, brings the role of speaker of the house into disrepute.
“The plaque should be removed and he should apologise to parliament and to the millions of people harmed by gambling each year in Great Britain.”
Matt Zarb-Cousin, the director of Clean Up Gambling, said: “Being Commons speaker is a privilege that comes with a responsibility to being non-partisan in all aspects of the job. That means not favouring particular interests over others.
“It is a huge error of judgment for the speaker to be seen to be endorsing a gambling operator, in particular Betfred given its track record of mistreating staff and customers.”
Hoyle’s opening of the HQ was first highlighted by the investigative blog by Dr Alex May. Earlier this year the Gambling Commission fined Betfred’s owners £3.25m after an investigation revealed social responsibility and anti-money-laundering failures.
In 2019, the Guardian found the bookmaker had underpaid staff and apparently failed to tell them they might be owed money even after it discovered the widespread payment problem. It was also forced to pay out in 2021 after a high court case from a gambler when it refused to pay out his 2018 winnings because of a “defect” in the game.
The newly refurbished headquarters for Betfred, which holds 450 staff, was on the previous site of the Warrington Spectrum – a live music and sports venue. It is one of the biggest employers in the north-west of England.
Betfred founder and chair Fred Done said at the opening: “I’m delighted that, because of our close association with rugby league, Sir Lindsay Hoyle has kindly agreed to officially open the building.”
The plaque, however, makes no reference to the RFL and instead says the building “was officially reopened by the speaker of the House of Commons”.
A spokesperson for Hoyle said “The speaker visited in his capacity as president of the Rugby Football League only.”
Betfred has been approached for comment.
