On-course Horserace Betting

HC 37, Fifth Report of Session 2007-08 - Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

Author:: House of Commons - Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Publisher:: TSO (The Stationery Office)

On-course Horserace Betting (HC 37)

On-course horserace bookmaking has undergone substantial regulatory reform, since the enactment of the 'Gambling Act 2005: Elizabeth II - Chapter 19' (ISBN 0105419052). In particular the reform of allocating on-course horserace bookmakers' pitches (the physical position each bookmaker occupies on the racecourse). This issue has been the subject of a dispute, particularly since a certain number of bookmakers have bought what they believe is an existing 'tenure' in perpetuity on a bookmakers' list.

The Gambling Act also removed the requirement of horse racecourses to obtain a certificate of approval in order to operate. This also removed the 'five times rule', which capped the charge to a bookmaker for admission to an enclosure at five times the amount of the highest charge to members of the public for admission to that enclosure, a development the Committee approves. With the removal of certificates of approval by the Act, this also removed the mechanism that ensured that racecourses observed bookmakers' lists (where bookmakers that attend the racecourse are entitled to pick their pitch position in accordance with their respective list position). The Gambling Act has enabled racecourses and bookmakers to enter into commercial arrangements for the pricing and allocation of pitch positions.

The Committee welcomes the efforts of bookmakers and racecourses to agree new arrangements for the administration and regulation of on-course betting and the establishment of the new working party to consider the issue of pitch positions. The Committee believes that if racecourses wish to move to a fully commercial relationship for the allocation and pricing of pitch positions, compensation should be made available for those who purchased a list position under the system of certificate of approval. If the racecourses and bookmakers cannot reach a commercial arrangement over pitches, the Committee believes the system of bookmakers' lists under the certificate of approval should be re-imposed.

Extent	139 pages	ISBN	9780215038227
Size	A4	Price	£17.50
Binding	Paperback	Published	23 Jan 2008
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges