Chancellor Rishi Sunak raises racing industry's concerns over gambling review

Rishi Sunak has doubled down in helping British racing in the government's gambling review, raising the industry's concerns in a second letter to his ministerial colleagues at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The chancellor of the exchequer, whose Richmond constituency in North Yorkshire includes Catterick racecourse and the Middleham training centre, has written to culture secretary Nadine Dorries on behalf of the industry over the possibility of affordability checks being introduced as part of the government's overhaul of gambling legislation.

There are worries the imposition of blanket checks might cost the racing industry tens of millions of pounds of revenue a year should punters be put off betting or pushed towards the black market by checks asking for personal financial information. Ministers are expected to publish the gambling review white paper in May.

It is not the first time Sunak has reacted to concerns raised by his constituents on this matter. The Racing Post reported last year the chancellor had written to Dorries's predecessor Oliver Dowden following a Gambling Commission consultation on affordability checks.

Intrusive gambling review proposals could have dire consequences for horseracing

John Sanderson, group chief executive of Catterick's owner International Racecourse Management, said Sunak was among a number of MPs who had been contacted about the issue as part of a wider industry effort.

He said they had highlighted the potential unintended consequences for the racing industry and thousands of jobs in the rural economy and that Sunak had raised specific questions about affordability checks which had received a formal government reply.

Sanderson added: "We said we support the government taking proportionate action but we were concerned that implementing blanket affordability checks on customers would have a materially detrimental impact on the industry. It will drive betting into the unregulated market and the modelling says we'll lose £60 million a year.

"In one of the letters I said it was good that the review is wide-ranging because there are so many different forms of gambling that are readily available and being promoted to the public almost 24 hours a day.

"If you contrast that with racing, betting on racing is not an outright game of chance like casinos, scratchcards, FOBTs and things like that. My view is that we shouldn't be rolled up in that."

Sunak is set to deliver the government's spring statement on Wednesday, and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has said it will back the chancellor’s economic recovery plan while calling on ministers not to put this at risk in the gambling review.

Michael Dugher: industry's support for sport is 'vital'

BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said: "Our members are ready, willing and able to assist in the chancellor’s post-covid economic recovery plan.

"They already support thousands of world-leading tech jobs across the UK, helping to generate billions of pounds in revenue for the Treasury. And with ambitious plans for further investment in the years to come to generate more quality and high skilled jobs in regions outside London, we are contributing to the levelling up agenda.

"But it is vital the industry’s contribution to sports, local communities, jobs and tax revenues, is not put at risk in the gambling review white paper and with well-meaning but naive changes to regulation."

Read more:

'Change is needed and change is coming' - gambling minister on reform rally

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

Racegoers urged to contact MPs over 'unintended consequences' of gambling review

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