Chancellor Rachel Reeves will exempt horseracing from the UK Government's upcoming gambling tax rises, according to reports from The Telegraph.
The move is expected to shield Britain's second-largest spectator sport from the impact of broader reforms that will target other areas of betting, including slot machines and online gaming.
Under current plans, bets placed in person at racecourses will continue to face no additional duty, while those placed on horseracing through betting shops or online will also remain unchanged.
The Treasury is expected to raise around £1bn ($1.31bn) from its wider gambling tax measures, though final decisions will not be confirmed until the November Budget.
A Treasury spokesperson said: "We know horseracing is part of the cultural fabric of the country, that's why it's the only sector that benefits from a government-mandated levy whilst betting at the races gets a 100% tax break - which we have no plans to change."
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) recently launched ten free horse welfare e-learning modules as part of its A Life Well Lived strategy, aimed at improving welfare standards and public trust in the sport
While racing appears to have been spared from immediate tax rises, the sector continues to express concern over the government's consultation on gambling duty.
Proposed increases from 15% to 21% for online horse racing bets could, according to the BHA, cost the sport £66m annually and result in job losses
Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who has spoken openly about his past gambling addiction, urged the government to direct any additional betting tax revenues towards addiction recovery services.
In September, trainers, jockeys and owners staged protests outside Parliament under the campaign 'Axe the Racing Tax', warning that higher duties could undermine the sport's financial stability.
Earlier this year, the BHA said that welfare and economic sustainability must remain central to racing's future
