Betting industry warns of risk of 'fracture' as courses study new funding model

Britain's racecourses are planning a radical change in the way they are financially rewarded by online bookmakers in a move which one betting industry source said risked fracturing relations between the two sectors.

The Racing Partnership (TRP), which represents the media rights of Arena Racing Company and a number of small independent tracks, and Racecourse Media Group, which manages media rights for 34 tracks including those under the Jockey Club banner, are driving the move.

They are seeking to move away from the 'bet and watch model', under which operators pay a fee for every race streamed, to 'watch and bet', in which account holders would be able to watch racing essentially free on bookmaker websites, with operators paying racecourses a "small" percentage of turnover on all online bets on British horseracing. Tied into that would also be a payment for the data necessary to take bets.