Racing warned gambling review poses 'clear and present danger' to sport's future

British racing's leaders have been warned the next few weeks are "absolutely critical" to the sport's future with the government expected to publish its gambling review white paper in the spring.

In an interview with the Racing Post, Betting and Gaming Council chief executive Michael Dugher told British racing it faced a "clear and present danger" if ministers got their proposals wrong and that the betting industry's fight was their fight as well.

The government launched its review of the Gambling Act 2005 in December 2020 promising to make legislation "fit for the digital age".

However, while the BHA has said it fully supports the review's objectives, there has been widespread concern within the sport about some of the potential outcomes.

Affordability checks for punters are expected to be one of the recommendations of the review but there have been warnings from British racing's leaders that should the checks be too intrusive – with customers expected to provide bank statements and payslips to prove they could afford to bet – it could result in a massive blow to its finances.

It has been estimated checks triggered by as low a monthly loss as £100 could cost British racing £60 million a year or more per annum.

There are also concerns about the impact that calls for bans on betting sponsorship and television advertising could have should racing not receive an exemption, with ITV's coverage of the sport a potential victim.

Michael Dugher: 'Racing without betting simply wouldn't exist'

Dugher, a former Labour MP and shadow culture spokesman, described himself as a "passionate devotee" of racing but said stakeholders within the sport need to stop squabbling among themselves and concentrate on the pressing matter of the gambling review.

"Racing without betting simply wouldn't exist," he said. "The racing industry needs to get real and understand that, realise that our fight is their fight and the coming weeks are absolutely critical to their future."

Dugher added: "I know racing would rather spend the day arguing among themselves. I think [BHA chief executive] Julie Harrington has a hero's task dealing with her members. People in the racing industry, these people could start a fight in an empty room.

"But they really need to get themselves together and say there is huge amounts of commonality here, not least a clear and present danger to the future of their sport, and everyone in racing needs to get off their backside."

Last week gambling minister Chris Philp pledged the government wanted to ensure the gambling review would not "undermine the financial condition" of British racing, a statement welcomed by Harrington.

However, Dugher has described the suggestion that racing could survive unscathed from any reforms reducing the size of the regulated gambling industry as "just naive".

Details of the government's proposals for gambling reform had been expected to be published before Christmas but that timetable has slipped, with the white paper expected around Easter or even as late as May.

Philp told MPs last week the government had been working on the review "at pace and it will be published in the near future".

Michael Dugher: 'Everyone in racing needs to get off their backside - our fight is their fight' (Members' Club)

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday