Horserace Betting Levy Board

On 31st October 2008, the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Bookmakers’ Committee agreed the Forty-Eighth Levy Scheme (1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010).

The terms of next year’s Scheme are based on those of the current Scheme with some important modifications:

(a) To assist smaller betting shop operators, the threshold above which the full 10% of Gross Profits is payable will increase from £85,700 to £90,000.

(b) Also to assist smaller betting shop operators, the minimum guarantee (£2144 in the current 47th Levy Scheme) has been dropped.

(c) To assist racecourse bookmakers, whilst the Flat Fee has been increased from £188 to £200, the previous charges of £4 for each attendance in Silver Rings and £8 for attendance in other Rings has been dropped.

On 4 Sundays, 2 fixtures on each day will be re-introduced with prize money of £40,000 per fixture and integrity costs funded by the Levy Board with no dilution of currently planned funding levels, for 2009 only.

Further, between 100 and 104 additional races will be introduced, with first priority being criteria gaps on certain Mondays and Tuesdays and with second priority being twilight races. These will also be funded by the Levy Board with no dilution of currently planned funding levels, for 2009 only.

Additionally, the Levy Board agreed that discussions should commence forthwith over 48 hour declarations and that the Betting Pattern Working Group would be reconvened under the Levy Board to discuss fixtures and other related issues.

Bookmakers further agreed that LBOs would be encouraged to provide extra marketing and in-store promotion on 10 Group 1 days at no cost to Racing and that they would look to sponsoring the additional Sundays and races.

Levy Board Members discussed the Ministerial Review and Modernisation of the Levy. They agreed that all matters in the Review and Modernisation would be covered under the auspices of the Levy Board with a final report being sent to the Minister by 30th April 2009. Sir Philip Otton would be invited to conclude his advice for the Board.

The Levy Board Chairman, Robert Hughes commented:

“I am very grateful to the Bookmakers’ Committee and Racing’s Representatives for their positive and innovative approach to the 48th Levy Scheme. We discussed many issues and have a clear agenda for the future.”