1st February 2010

ALAN KEEN MP WINS £1000 FOR LOCAL CHARITY

Last Friday morning, 22^nd January, Alan Keen MP visited the local Ladbrokes shop in Bedfont to meet representatives of the company to discuss taxation policy and government regulation of the gambling industry.

Alan also met the staff at the shop on Staines Road and was offered a free £50 bet with the proceeds going to a local charity of his choice if he won.

Alan Keen MP said:

“I was delighted to be able to visit Ladbrokes recently to meet the hard working staff and to be asked to take part in their charity fundraiser.

“I spoke at an Age Concern event on Friday afternoon in Bedfont about the government’s plans for a National Care Service. I advised the audience to watch the Spurs v Leeds FA Cup game at 5.15pm the following day because they would receive £1000 from my forecast that the game would end as a 2 all draw. There was some scepticism at my confident announcement but I am sure everyone must have been as ecstatic as I was when the Leeds equalising goal flew into the back of the net in the 5^th minute of extra time!

“Despite the experience of my 18 years assessing future opponents’ tactics for Middlesbrough FC, I still believe there was a great deal of luck involved for the game to end as forecast. It was certainly far easier than the last time I raised money for Age Concern from one of my Great North Run half marathons.

“Age Concern is such an important charity and they do some fantastic work locally so I am really pleased that the winnings from Ladbrokes are going to them.”

Richard Royal from Ladbrokes said:

“Alan put down a very specific bet with relatively high odds but was confident about it from the start and I'm delighted that his winnings will be going to such a good local cause. As a company, we offer a lot of fun products to customers, but its often easy to overlook important issues such as the £4.1m we have given to charity since 2003, the steps we take to encourage responsible gambling and the £6bn the industry contributes to the economy."

1. Ladbrokes operates over 2,000 shops employing 15,000 people in the UK. The betting industry as a whole contributes £6 billion to the UK economy via its own output and employment as well as its links to other sectors.

2. Ladbrokes is at the forefront of sustainable and environmental practices in business, being the only UK betting company to be recognised by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. They also have a record of tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, as a strategic partner of Crimestoppers and an ongoing relationship with the local community and charity groups.