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5h ago

British Racing Halts for a Day as Industry Protests Proposed Online Betting Tax Rise

Ministers will weigh consultation responses before a November 26 Budget decision.

Horse Racing - British Horse Racing Protests in Westminster - Queen Elizabeth 2 Conference Centre - Westminster, London, Britain - September 10, 2025 British Horseracing Chief Executive, Authority Brant Dunshea during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
Horse Racing - British Horse Racing Protests in Westminster - Queen Elizabeth 2 Conference Centre - Westminster, London, Britain - September 10, 2025 Jockey Club Chief Executive, Jim Mullen and Arena Racing Company Chief Executive, Martin Cruddace during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
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Horse Racing - British Horse Racing Protests in Westminster - Queen Elizabeth 2 Conference Centre - Westminster, London, Britain - September 10, 2025 Charles Allen, chair of the British Horseracing Authority during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Overview

  • All four scheduled meetings at Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Lingfield and Kempton were cancelled in a one‑day shutdown to highlight opposition to a potential duty increase.
  • More than 200 jockeys, trainers and officials gathered in Westminster for the BHA’s ‘Axe The Racing Tax’ demonstration and briefing at the QEII Centre.
  • The Treasury’s duty harmonisation proposal could raise tax on online racing bets from 15% to 21%, aligning them with remote gaming duty on games of chance.
  • BHA‑commissioned analysis forecasts at least a £66 million hit to racing in the first year and 2,752 jobs at risk, as trainer John Gosden warned of possible layoffs at yards.
  • The government says no rate change has been announced and calls speculation inaccurate, reiterating no plans to alter racecourse betting relief and framing the review as simplification.