BHA Policy & Advocacy Manager, Jack Barton, has alerted ministers that for horseracing, decision making is where they can ‘truly make the difference’.

This follows a speech from Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross last month when she said “British racing plays a crucial role as part of this country’s sporting culture and heritage,” as well as being “a major asset to this country, both domestically and also internationally”.

Joe Saumarez Smith, in his last public contribution, spoke about the significant economic headwinds the sport is facing and called for the Government to act on Levy reform and the impact of affordability checks on racing’s income.

He said that ‘almost two years after the previous Government published its White Paper on gambling, it is hard not to feel that repeated warnings from racing have not been taken seriously enough or the views of punters properly considered’ – a message in which Barton assured the BHA will continue to relay to Government.

Meanwhile, as the Levy review continues, the BHA has called on DCMS to make a determination as the Betting and Gaming Council’s (BGC’s) current position leaves ‘little room for negotiation’, Barton explained.

However, the authority is now hoping to make some progress over the coming weeks after Baroness Twycross insisted that both parties return to negotiations – including developing a new ‘growth fund’ for British Racing.

Barton added on this: “We will continue to work in good faith with all parties to deliver an outcome that works for British racing. With the 2023 Gambling White Paper outlining Levy reform as a vehicle for mitigating its negative impacts on racing, any ‘growth fund’ should contain a meaningful and, most importantly, new financial contribution.”

The BHA is to soon meet senior DCMS officials to discuss what is happening around customer checks and restrictions in more detail. 

Moreover, Barton has suggested that with financial risk checks currently being piloted and a statutory instrument now laid to pass the Statutory Levy into legislation, gambling sponsorship and advertising “could be the next battleground”. 

He noted: “Given the importance of gambling advertising to racing, especially to our terrestrial television coverage on ITV, it is a debate that we will monitor closely and intervene in where necessary. 

“We know from our colleagues in Ireland how challenging this issue can be.

Other debate participants recognised the clear difference between traditional gambling products like racing and more harmful products like online slots and FOBTs, a position that has also recently been adopted by the part-architects of affordability checks the Social Market Foundation think tank.”

Furthermore, several MPs have called for further tightening of existing gambling regulations, and the BHA has said that it has written to them describing how this would have a negative impact on British racing.

Finally, the group added that another issue affecting the sport is the impact of October’s Budget on racing businesses, including changes to Employer National Insurance and the National Minimum Wage.

Whilst the campaign against Inheritance Tax and property relief changes has been led by the farming lobby, the BHA and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association discovered that one in five stud farms will be impacted. 

“We are making representations to HM Treasury on the impact of the policy on breeders and associated industries,” Barton concluded.

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