Giving back and supporting the community is an important part of gambling’s relationship with society, and will become even more important for UK firms in a fragmented political landscape.
In this article, SBC News takes a look at how some of the biggest and most innovative gambling firms are fulfilling a commitment to giving back, with three operators announcing charitable initiatives this week.
Flutter UKI stands against cancer
One of the latest initiatives comes from Flutter UKI, which has decided to dedicate a large amount of resources towards children and young people fighting cancer in 2026 – part of the company’s long-standing work with charitable organisations.
The first charity handpicked by Flutter staff is UK-based Young Lives vs Cancer, which is designed to provide emotional, practical and financial support to children and young people, as well as their family, as they battle the disease. Support is available from the point of diagnosis, through treatment and thereafter.
Cancer Fund for Children is the second selected charity. Operating in Ireland, it will rely on the funds raised by Flutter to expand its services across three key hospitals – St James’s Hospital, Cork University Hospital, and University Hospital Galway.
This will be in addition to an improved follow-up community service and the development of the charity’s second break centre for children affected by cancer in the village of Cong in County Mayo, which is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2027.
Phil Alexander, Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Fund for Children, said: “Flutter’s belief in our mission will help us expand our services, open our second therapeutic short break center, and reach even more families with the emotional, therapeutic and practical support they need during some of the most difficult and uncertain times in their lives.
“It reflects what can be achieved when organisations unite around a shared vision: building a future where every family facing cancer feels supported, connected and cared for.”
In 2025, Flutter staff managed to raise more than £722,000 through fundraising for that year’s chosen charities – Pancreatic Cancer UK (£363,000) and the National Maternity Hospital Foundation in Dublin (€415,000).
Even more, Flutter UKI’s charitable activity and partnerships with various organisations across the UK and Ireland raised over £8m to good causes just for last year alone.
Kevin Harrington, CEO of Flutter UKI, added: “Our community strategy is rooted in a simple idea: to use the scale of our workforce and brands to support the communities we serve in ways that create real outcomes.
“With the right partnerships, our aim is to raise awareness, fund work that improves lives at a grassroots level, support life‑changing research and motivate individuals to take steps that could not only change but also save lives.
“I’m incredibly proud of what colleagues achieved over the past year — and we’re excited to raise the bar again in 2026.”
Kaizen funds the minds of the future
Besides health, education is also a field commonly supported by the gambling sector. Just recently, Kaizen Foundation and Resolution Projects – an initiative supporting young bright minds – announced a new partnership to support student entrepreneurs worldwide.
Their collaboration will empower more than 50,000 universities to support students from all backgrounds to bring their projects into fruition, creating ventures that will have a lasting impact on their home communities.
Seed capital, mentorship, and other resources required to achieve a sustainable project will be given to successful student candidates across more than 35 countries, such as Greece, Brazil, Colombia, and Canada, resulting in projects ranging from healthcare access to environmental conservation.
Panos Konstantopoulos, President of Kaizen Foundation, commented: “We believe in people’s potential, and this partnership allows us to play our part in empowering the next generation of social entrepreneurs.
“Resolution Project and Enactus share our vision of breaking down barriers and providing learning opportunities to those who need them most. By investing in student entrepreneurs at the earliest stages, we’re supporting young leaders who will strengthen their communities for generations to come.”
Midnite keeps it local
Back to the UK and the local community, sportsbook Midnite, which is Southampton FC’s training kit partner, is doing its part through its Brace Yourself campaign.
The initiative gives back to the fans when a Southampton player scores two or more goals during a home game, with the latest lucky fan bagging £7,000 after the Saints won 5-0 at home against Queens Park Rangers.
With this being the fourth iteration of the campaign, Midnite has given back a total of £17k to fans, while also matching the figure through a donation to the Saints Foundation – which in turn invests into the Southampton community.
Greg Baker, Chief Revenue Officer at Southampton FC, concluded: “As our Official Training Kit Partner, Midnite has consistently found innovative ways to engage with our fanbase.
“Brace Yourself, as one example, has added an exciting new dimension to matchdays at St Mary’s Stadium, and it’s fantastic to see the initiative deliver such memorable and rewarding moments for our fans. Congratulations to the latest winner – we hope this makes the season even more special.”
Giving back and supporting the community is an important part of gambling’s relationship with society, and will become even more important for UK firms in a fragmented political landscape. In this article, SBC News takes a look at how some of the biggest and most innovative gambling firms are fulfilling a commitment to giving back,