RMG urges horse racing sector to lobby UK government on Gambling Act review

Racecourse Media Group has told stakeholders they should continue to push their views on the review of British gambling legislation.

UK.- Martin Stevenson, CEO of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), has urged stakeholders in the horse racing sector to step up lobbying with regards to the UK government’s review of gambling legislation.

He claimed that potential changes to legislation could have a major impact on the sport in general.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has yet to publish its gambling white paper on proposed amendments to the 2005 Gambling Act.

It began an increasingly drawn-out review of legislation in October of 2021, with several proposals on the table including restrictions on gambling advertising in sports and probable stake limits on online casino gaming.

One of the major concerns for the horse racing sector has been the possibility that Britain might introduce mandatory affordability checks and an affordability cap for all gaming, which could seriously harm the revenue horse racing received from betting operators.

The sport receives around £350m a year through the betting levy paid by operators.

The racing sector is also worried that any restrictions on television advertising could reduce television coverage at a moment in which the sector is trying to boost its reach and appeal among younger audiences.

Stevenson told Racing Post: “We think it is enormously important that the millions of people who enjoy the sport have the opportunity to explain their concerns to MPs and government. People enjoy betting on racing and sports, and it is vital that government hears from fans on that so that we avoid a potential catastrophe for the sport if new legislation is not proportionate and targeted.”

RMG has been working with the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) in its lobbying efforts and says that more than 5,000 emails have been sent to MPs. It has its own engagement portal for the gambling legislation review.

Stevenson said: “This enabled [stakeholders] to seek assurances that any future gambling regulation would not impinge on their civil liberties and freedom to choose how they spend time and money enjoying horseracing, and nor would it result in any unintended economic consequences to British horseracing.’

This month, Racecourse Media Group began looking for a replacement for its chairman Roger Lewis, who will step down from his position leading the board at the end of the year.