Racing's campaign to avoid a hike in taxes on betting has finally reached its climax. The stakes are high, and with Rachel Reeves set to deliver her budget speech, racing enthusiasts are bracing themselves for what could be a momentous day.
The UK gambling industry is facing a perfect storm, with the 2005 Gambling Act having enabled a bonanza that fueled by gaming products has finally run out of road. The boom in online gaming and casino products above all was facilitated by the legislation which came into force in 2007. After years of campaigning against FOBTs, the limit on those Β£100-a-spin roulette machines was eventually cut to just Β£2.
Now, the focus is shifting towards gaming duty, which has been a contentious issue for racing and other stakeholders. Gordon Brown's intervention last year may have turned the tide in racing's favor, with the former prime minister recommending that gaming taxes be hiked to 50% while betting duty was left untouched.
The latest rumors suggest that this may indeed happen, with some experts claiming that racing has "about 1-4" chances of getting the desired outcome. With significant recent growth in the betting-shop sector and concerns from the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) about potential knock-on effects on racing, it seems that the industry is moving away from its claims of a gaming-fueled bonanza.
Racing's campaign to separate itself from the gaming sector has finally come to fruition. With the UK's second-largest spectator sport set to benefit from a potential hike in gaming taxes, it may have jumped from the careering bandwagon just in time.
Whether this outcome will prove beneficial for racing remains to be seen. But with Gordon Brown's intervention and the latest rumors pointing to a significant increase in gaming tax, there is reason to be optimistic about the future of the sport.
The UK gambling industry is facing a perfect storm, with the 2005 Gambling Act having enabled a bonanza that fueled by gaming products has finally run out of road. The boom in online gaming and casino products above all was facilitated by the legislation which came into force in 2007. After years of campaigning against FOBTs, the limit on those Β£100-a-spin roulette machines was eventually cut to just Β£2.
Now, the focus is shifting towards gaming duty, which has been a contentious issue for racing and other stakeholders. Gordon Brown's intervention last year may have turned the tide in racing's favor, with the former prime minister recommending that gaming taxes be hiked to 50% while betting duty was left untouched.
The latest rumors suggest that this may indeed happen, with some experts claiming that racing has "about 1-4" chances of getting the desired outcome. With significant recent growth in the betting-shop sector and concerns from the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) about potential knock-on effects on racing, it seems that the industry is moving away from its claims of a gaming-fueled bonanza.
Racing's campaign to separate itself from the gaming sector has finally come to fruition. With the UK's second-largest spectator sport set to benefit from a potential hike in gaming taxes, it may have jumped from the careering bandwagon just in time.
Whether this outcome will prove beneficial for racing remains to be seen. But with Gordon Brown's intervention and the latest rumors pointing to a significant increase in gaming tax, there is reason to be optimistic about the future of the sport.