‘Axe the Tax’ Campaign Unveiled by BHA
The BHA has launched ‘Axe the Racing Tax’, a public campaign designed to discourage a potential tax hike on horse race betting.

British horseracing is under threat, according to the BHA, which is now chanting, ‘Axe the Racing Tax’. © Getty Images
Key Facts:
- BHA launches ‘Axe the Racing Tax’, opposing a proposed tax hike on horserace betting.
- All-Party Parliamentary Group identified a “triple whammy of financial risks.”
- Racing’s finances could potentially be hit with a £66m loss.
- BHA says jobs and welfare are at risk.
In an urgent call to arms, the British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) is leading what it calls ‘Axe the Racing Tax’. A public campaign, it opposes the Treasury’s proposed tax hike on horserace betting by bringing existing online betting duties into one single rate.
In mid-June, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Racing and Bloodstock produced a report titled ‘Securing Racing’s Future: The Threat to British Horseracing’. It highlighted a “triple whammy of financial risks” for the sport.
‘Axe the Racing Tax’ tackles the primary ‘whammy’ – a potential change to how betting and gaming are taxed online. Currently, the tax rate bookmakers pay on racing is less than that paid on games of chance.
Are Jobs and Welfare at Risk?
Economic analysis commissioned by the BHA shows that aligning the current 15% tax rate paid by bookmakers on racing with that of online games of chance (currently taxed at 21%) by harmonising all remote gambling duties could hit racing’s finances with a £66m loss in income via its levy, media rights and sponsorship.
The BHA said, “This is because operators are likely to seek to mitigate significant tax rises through cutting bonuses, reducing advertising and marketing budgets, and increasing prices.”
In a stark warning, horse racing’s governing and regulatory body says things could potentially be worse. It states: “Should the Treasury seek to raise the proposed single duty rate further, the impact on racing’s finances would be devastating, with a projected £97m loss at a tax rate of 25%, a £126m loss at 30% and a £160m loss at 40%.”
The BHA believes any tax hike would put thousands of jobs at risk and severely impact towns and rural communities nationwide. It would also hamper British racing’s world-leading work on equine welfare.
A Grave Risks to Racing
The organisation is now asking everyone involved in the sport to “play their part in urging the Government to axe the racing tax by writing to their local MP to call on Ministers to rethink proposals urgently.”
Accompanying the BHA’s battle cry, Brant Dunshea, Acting Chief Executive of the BHA, said: “It is vital that everyone working in racing, the media and bettors fully support and promote this campaign. The Government’s consultation on harmonising online betting duties, if followed through, poses one of the gravest risks to racing the sport has ever seen.”
“It will punch a huge hole in racing’s finances, risk thousands of jobs across Britain and threaten the future of the country’s second-most-popular sport and a cherished national institution.”
July 21 Deadline for Tax Talk
In a document titled ‘Tax Treatment of Remote Gambling’, the Government says it welcomes contributions from any individual or organisation interested in reforming remote gambling taxation during its consultation period that will run for 12 weeks, closing on 21 July 2025.
The Government promises to analyse responses to the consultation and respond in due course. However, it warns, “subject to consultation responses, the government would look to bring into effect the new tax in October 2027 or sometime afterwards.”