'Bigger meetings are more important than ever' - on-course bookmakers express caution despite rising turnover

On-course bookmakers believe bigger racedays are more crucial than ever in keeping them afloat, as they responded to Gambling Commission statistics revealing an increase in betting turnover at British racecourses.

While the statistics released on Tuesday revealed an  "extraordinarily concerning" six per cent year-on-year decline  in online betting turnover on the sport, there was a 9.5 per cent increase in the amount wagered on-course, with £248 million staked between April 2024 and March 2025. 

 But bookmakers at Market Rasen on Wednesday were cautious over the rise in on-course betting turnover and stressed that smaller, midweek meetings still presented a significant challenge.

Steve Price, who stands as William Price, said: "Bigger meetings are more important to me now than ever – I could write the calendar now and say at which meetings I'll get a decent turnout and return. The good days are holding up, but the lesser days are like dropping off a cliff.

"The reality is I went to Sedgefield the other day and took 58 bets all day and £1,000. Nobody's telling you about that. To improve a quiet day is now almost impossible. I've spent a lifetime in this game and there's maybe 300 fixtures that have grown from nothing and are pointless for us."

Dan Hague, who also stands at Market Rasen, believes the impact of affordability checks on punters by off-course firms has been a factor in increased on-course turnover. But he warned the situation was not as positive for layers at the track as it might seem.

He said: "I wouldn't altogether say it's rosy, as from the places I go, the profit margins are slim to zero. But turnover is up. When you pay your bills, you can do so only via profits.

"Naturally, with the way off-course firms operate, with the knockback scenarios and affordability checks, people will start coming to the races to bet, especially the larger-staking customers who can get on at very fair prices.

"If we were to pick up the pieces, all is well and good, as the weaker the offering from off-course, the better it'll be for on-course bookmakers, but we still need to bear in mind the state of the economy, whichever way you look at it."

While British racing was spared from tax rises in Wednesday's budget, Price believes tracks in Britain should not rest on their laurels and could do more to help improve their on-course offering.

He said: "The racecourses have to have a change of heart and stop mainly holding out for the media rights money. Some tracks are trying their hardest on this, but I feel some of them don't want punters and see them as an inconvenience. Some are becoming quite reliant on media rights money."

Read more:

Racing's difficult financial position exposed as 'extremely concerning' six per cent decline in online betting turnover revealed 

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms racing to be exempt from increases to betting duty in 2027 in budget statement 

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