Leading figures in British racing are urging the government to intervene and prevent the sport from financial collapse amid concerns over proposed affordability checks in the gambling industry, before Monday’s parliamentary debate. These checks, which have sparked a significant backlash from bettors and industry stakeholders, are feared to cause considerable harm to horse racing. Critics, including a former Chancellor, have labeled the checks as 'ill-advised, blunt, and damaging.' The Racing Post reported a significant drop in betting on horse racing, with £900 million less wagered in 2022-23 compared to previous years. Over 100,000 people have signed a petition against these checks, arguing they are intrusive and detrimental to the sport. The debate has divided opinions in Westminster, with some MPs advocating for the checks as a means to combat problem gambling, while others, including Conor McGinn, argue they are 'unwise and unwelcome,' infringing on personal freedom.
So-called ‘affordability checks’ on punters are unwise and unwelcome. Millions of people responsibly enjoy a bet on the horses or football. It’s not for Government to tell the working man and woman how to spend their own money. https://t.co/vcbpkCQuYZ
Talking Horses: racing’s affordability checks debate divides Westminster https://t.co/CPvS8uOGzg
Today, I made my point very clear in the debate on financial risk checks for gambling, "The logical way forward would be to proactively introduce affordability checks on anyone gambling large sums." @GRHAPPG #gambling https://t.co/bE9VsJwfQr
Thought @Steph_Peacock spoke more sense than many in the debate on affordability checks and the racing industry may feel comforted that this will potentially soon land on her desk. Disappointing that she seemed to think checks inevitable though when 100,000+ want them abandoned.
Plans for financial checks will damage horseracing and increase problem gambling. Any jockey knows when a race is going wrong. It is time to return to the stalls on this one and start again. https://t.co/RYZ6cnyqrx
Now 100,000+ people that signed a petition clearly stating they want affordability checks on gambling to be abandoned are being patronised by @ronniecowan who suggests signatories were tricked by the evil gambling industry and these voters didn't understand what they were signing
The debate on affordability gains nothing from MPs using dodgy stats on suicides caused by gambling and repeating the nonsense on the small number of accounts that will be affected when we know huge numbers of account are dormant or are used once a year.
The list of anti-gambling MPs who seem to think the betting industry signed a petition over 100,000 times saying they want to stop affordability checks now includes @PaulBlomfieldMP It's an insult to the ordinary punters who made their point clearly.
The anti-gambling MPs totally missing the point that this is a petition by punters who have clearly stated they do not want affordability checks. We don't need to hear about industry mistakes from the past, surely as much a failure of the GC, punishing punters doesn't solve that.
The debate in parliament following the petition where over 100,000 people very clearly said no to intrusive affordability checks which are damaging the sport of horse racing can be followed via this link...https://t.co/fV2nR75Bkx
Former Chancellor calls for government to rethink 'ill-advised, blunt and damaging' affordability checks | Racing Post https://t.co/v1aizqtm0O
Leading figures in British racing are pressing the government to rescue the sport from the threat of financial ruin before Monday’s parliamentary debate on affordability checks in the gambling industry Read the full story ⬇️ https://t.co/Ar6xbCPvHn
💬 '£900 million less was bet on horseracing with regulated online bookmakers in 2022-23' MPs must not underestimate how bitterly bettors resent checks or the damage being done to racing https://t.co/ape8OUjnZ1