The BGC and its members pay tribute to Levy Board Chairman and former ABB Chair Paul Darling

Following the sudden death of the Horserace Betting Levy Board Chair and former Chair of the Association of British Bookmakers Paul Darling OBE, KC, the UK's Betting and Gaming Council and its members paid tribute to the contribution he made to the industry.

Michael Dugher, BGC Chair, said: "I was so sorry to learn of the passing of Paul Darling. Such an incredibly clever person, but always such great company and great fun. I will remember with much fondness a warm, wise old bear of a man.

"He made you think and he made you smile. A formidable and distinguished lawyer, a powerful and progressive force for British horseracing, and a very dear friend to many of us in the betting industry. My thoughts and prayers are with his many friends and loved ones at this terribly sad time."

Grainne Hurst, BGC CEO, commented: "Everybody at the BGC was saddened to hear of the loss of Paul Darling. Paul was an expert both legally and practically when it came to gambling regulation and was a passionate stalwart of our industry.

"Reliable, knowledgeable, principled, and with a great sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by everyone who has ever worked with him and my thoughts go out to his family and friends at this particularly difficult time."

Gary Follis, Executive Director of BGC, said: "Paul was a great friend and colleague. He was not only a hugely popular, intelligent, and distinguished figure in the world of betting, but also had an immensely sharp wit which he used to great effect to win friends and arguments. 

"He provided me with much wise counsel over the years, often accompanied by a light amusing anecdote from his experience of growing up in South Shields. My deepest sympathies are with his wife Camilla and wider family. He will be greatly missed by us all."

For his part, Simon Clare, Group Director of Consumer PR, Entain, said: "This is desperately sad news. Paul was a larger-than-life character, full of positivity, energy, and a huge capacity for fun, as well as being a super smart and passionate contributor to British racing. 

"He will be sorely missed and I would like to offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to Camilla and all of Paul’s friends and family on behalf of the many people at Entain who were fortunate enough to know Paul."

Ursula Servis, former Director of ABB, also offered her condolences: "This is such sad news. Working with Paul was one of the highlights of my career. He was simply the most kind person you could wish to meet. He was thoughtful, funny, and had the utmost integrity. He will be greatly missed."

Greg Knight, JenningsBet Managing Director, commented: "Alongside Malcolm George, Paul was at the helm of the ABB during a tumultuous & challenging period, often fighting against the tide but always engaging & calm. He was one of the few people who understood the symbiotic relationship between racing & bookmaking & he straddled both of those worlds with great diplomacy & skill."

"During his tenure, he was always keen to campaign for the smaller operators & genuinely cared about those working on the front line in the shops. He was a pivotal figure in both the Racing & Bookmaking industries & he will be sorely missed."

Malcolm George, former CEO of ABB, also shared his sentiment: "I had the pleasure of working with Paul for four years when he was Chairman of the Association of British Bookmakers.

"In his role as Chairman, he gave generously of his time and intellect to support industry and the sports he loved. Most of all, I will remember his deep and genuine kindness to me, the ABB team, and our members. I feel honored and privileged to have been able to call Paul a friend and I will miss him."

On behalf of our newsroom, Yogonet deeply regrets this significant loss and we offer our deepest condolences to Darling's family, colleagues, and friends.