BHA addresses financial risk assessments, resignations and sponsorship bans

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) published a blog written by Jack Barton, Policy & Advocacy Manager, addressing some of the latest changes in the industry.

The post immediately addresses the controversial financial risk assessment initiative that was due to be rolled out by the Gambling Commission this summer. 

However, after pushback from across the industry, the Gambling Commission confirmed that this would be delayed while it re-examined the evidence it had received.

Barton commented: “Following a frustrating couple of months, where serious concerns largely fell on deaf ears, it was welcome confirmation that the intense joint lobbying from racing and betting – both publicly and behind the scenes – had the desired effect of pausing the implementation of affordability checks, at least for now.

“The penetrating media and political campaign opposing the checks required a significant effort from across British racing. 

“We thank everyone who played their part in ensuring that the message was heard loud and clear that this policy should not happen without further assessment of its impact on the sport.”

He continued that, while it seems inevitable that the Commission will implement the checks at some point, the horseracing and the betting public should be given the opportunity to see the ‘extensive evidence’ mentioned by the Commission.

Next on the agenda was the resignation of James Noyes from the Gambling Review Evaluation Advisory Group. 

Barton noted that it was a surprise to find out that “not only does this group exist, but said group is apparently ‘failing to carry out its functions in a proper manner’ and relying on entirely qualitative methods rather than real world data.” 

According to him, the group was not mentioned at any point since the 2023 White Paper and even now, there is a reluctance to reveal who else is a member of the group. 

“Why the DCMS, which is responsible for our sport and the betting industry, has washed its hands of a policy which it devised and instead handed power to an unelected quango remains a mystery.”

He explains: “It is worth noting that Dr Noyes has long been viewed by many in betting and racing as anti-gambling given his role as a pioneer for the concept of checks, and his withdrawal of support can be seen as somewhat of a bellwether of just how widespread concern now is about this policy.

“As his remarkable resignation letter makes clear, he not only believes that proper checks and balances are not being applied to this policy, but also that, what is now being planned is so far beyond his original proposal that it will not deliver the frictionless, non-intrusive process that was promised and will instead risk causing serious harm to British racing.”

Finally, Barton addressed the rumours that sponsorships and gambling advertising may be affected in the horseracing sphere. 

He concluded: “Following a conversation with the All-Party Parliamentary Group’s (APPG) clerk, we have had confirmation that the racing carve out recommended by the report’s authors Alex Ballinger and Dr Beccy Cooper would apply to all of the policy recommendations made in the report such as banning all gambling advertising before the watershed and stopping betting operators from sponsoring individual programmes. 

“It was pleasing to once again see the unique relationship between horseracing and betting recognised.

“While concerns around the impact on children and young people of seeing such advertising is not without merit, what is increasingly clear is that the priority should first be to ensure that illegal operators are not targeting UK consumers, especially on social media.”