Laurence Robertson MP has shared his concern that measures resulting from the UK Government’s ongoing review of the gambling sector could still have a negative impact on the local racing sector, even though the Government has confirmed its recognition of the link between betting and racing has cheered him up.
Mr Roberson has been concerned about the potential of some blanket affordability checks to be introduced by the authorities following the review.
According to some top executives of the British racing industry, certain financial modelling would potentially affect the more intrusive affordability checks under which customers are required to provide financial information to prove their source of funding or the fact they can afford to lose more than £100 on races. Mr Robertson’s issues with affordability checks were based on his concern that similar measures are not required for other forms of spending, such as for example, online shopping. Furthermore, he has shared that, in his opinion, the threshold would have to be placed at a very low level.
As mentioned above, Mr Robertson has been encouraged by the fact that the UK Government recognised the link between betting and racing and its claims that local lawmakers would not take measures that would hurt the country’s racing sector. The Member of Parliament, however, remains concerned about how the Government would still bring changes to the industry.
Racing Has Been Historically Linked to Gambling, MP Notes
Mr Robertson MP, whose constituency includes the Cheltenham racecourse, shared with The Racing Post that he is still not sure about how the authorities would separate the different forms of gambling from sports betting because if not separated, the new and more restrictive rules would have a negative impact on the racing sector. According to him, the UK Government should find the balance between harmless gambling and preventing gambling-related harm.
The Member of Parliament explained that the general public did not understand that the country’s racing sector was struggling financially. He further noted that the sport was very poorly funded, so it would suffer a serious blow if it faced any downturn and levy payments, paid media rights, or suspension of gambling sponsorship deals. Mr Robertson claims that the financial state of the British racing sector only allows it to break even after making prize-money payments, staff salaries payments and other expenses.
Still, Mr Robertson, who is a consultant for the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the trade body representing the UK gambling industry, said he supported the Government’s decision to review the sector. He noted that gambling addiction must be tackled but the authorities should do this in a way that would not damage things for the 30 million customers who are not problem gamblers, or for the sport of racing that historically has close ties with gambling.
As Casino Guardian has already reported, the UK Government is still expected to publish the white paper on its gambling review in the following weeks.
- Author
Daniel Williams
