BHA Urges Government to Apply Lower Betting Tax to Horseracing to Protect Jobs and Industry

The consultation, which closes on Monday and prompted the sport's 'Axe The Racing Tax' campaign, could result in a tax hike for bookmakers on the sport and was described as "the third leg of a triple whammy of financial threats caused by government policies, including affordability checks on racing bettors and a lack of Levy reform, which jeopardise the future of the sport in Britain".

Economic analysis commissioned by the BHA has shown that if horseracing was taxed at the same rate as online games of chance it would cost the sport £66 million a year while, in a worst-case scenario, the hit to the racing's finances could be in the region of £160m of income a year.

"British racing’s stakeholders are united in their opposition to the Treasury’s proposals to harmonise remote gambling duties," said acting chief executive Brant Dunshea.

"Horseracing has a uniquely symbiotic relationship with betting and the government must recognise this. It is why we are calling for betting on racing to be taxed at a different and lower rate to all other forms of betting.

"Thousands of jobs and livelihoods in towns and rural areas across the country are supported by the financial contributions of the betting industry through Levy, media rights and sponsorship.

"If the chancellor delivers this tax bombshell at the autumn budget, not only will jobs be lost but the future of Britain’s second-largest spectator sport will be in jeopardy.

"This is why it is vital that the government carefully considers the argument made by all British racing’s stakeholders and works alongside us to protect a cherished national institution.

"We are also urging fans of the sport to write to their MP to ask them to put pressure on the chancellor to Axe The Racing Tax, and our campaign will be reaching wider audiences in the months leading up to the budget."

The BHA's submission has the backing of British racing’s key stakeholder groups including the Jockey Club, Arena Racing Company, the Racecourse Association, the Racehorse Owners Association and the National Trainers Federation. 

On Wednesday it was revealed crowds at Britain's second best attended spectator sport had grown five per cent over the first six months of 2025, while two of the main contributors to Britain's booming attendance figures also warned on Thursday that the 'racing tax' is a serious threat to the sport's continued wellbeing.

Crowds were up by an average of 3.66 per cent at the 704 meetings from January to June, but racing is in a state of fear due to the potentially devastating financial impact of tax harmonisation.

Chester has done well in 2025, with attendance at its May meeting 7.9 per cent higher than last year, and Chester Race Company chief executive Louise Stewart said: “We’re delighted with the figures, they make everybody happy and proud as we’ve put in a lot of hard work. 

"Last season we looked at overhauling our sales approach and our marketing, and over the last couple of years we’ve really invested in the guest experience.”

But the racing tax is a big worry to the company, which also runs Bangor and Musselburgh, and Stewart said: “I echo what everyone has been saying in the Racing Post. We’ve contacted the MPs for each of our racecourses and we’ve had a lot of support. Hopefully we're able to make the case that racing isn’t quite the same as other forms of gambling.

“Sometimes it’s easy to blanket these things, which is really disappointing because the impact on all of racing will be so damaging.

“Samantha Dixon, our local MP at Chester, is very supportive of the racecourse, she understands how important it is for the city. She is a fan of racing and comes racing and she has written to Baroness Twycross, the gambling minister, herself.”

Crowds were also up at Chelmsford, where director Neil Graham said: "We're already seeing the effect of affordability checks: turnover has come down, a lot of people don't like being questioned and there's a certain amount of resentment. A racing tax will compound that issue.

"It's frustrating to be put in this position. We don't want people to become addicted gamblers, but that's not what we in racing see. There are a lot of checks in place already to safeguard people and to help them.

"It seems to be going in the wrong direction. Some people see betting as a dirty word. Playing on slot machines is a pure game of chance, but in racing people enjoy the element of skill, pitting yourself against the bookmaker, using the information they have to beat them. It’s an intellectual exercise in many ways."