TLDR The UK government has decided not to increase the 10% horserace betting levy after a review lasting nearly three years The levy generated £108 million last year from bookmakers with gross profits above £500,000 on British racing The British Horseracing Authority called the decision disappointing and said costs of staging the sport outpace returns from betting The government also ruled out extending the levy to bets placed on overseas racing Both racing and betting industry bodies warned that proposed affordability checks could push bettors toward the illegal market
The UK government has confirmed it will not raise the horserace betting levy from its current rate of 10%. The decision ends a review process that ran for nearly three years.
The announcement was made in a written statement by Baroness Twycross and repeated in the House of Commons by Ian Murray. The review originally began under the previous Conservative government and ran well past its initial deadline.
Racing bodies had been pushing for an increase. They argued that British racing gets a lower return from bookmakers compared to countries like France and Ireland.
Murray said the government wanted to provide “stability and certainty to the gambling sector” following recent changes to gambling taxation. He added that pursuing legislative changes to the levy rate was not appropriate at this time.
The government also confirmed it would not extend the levy to bets placed on overseas racing. It said current commercial arrangements already reflect the relationship between the racing and betting industries in Great Britain.
BHA Criticizes Lengthy Review and Unchanged Rate
The British Horseracing Authority responded quickly. Chief executive Brant Dunshea said it was “disappointing that it had taken almost three years to determine there should be no change in the levy rate.”
Dunshea said racing had provided