GBGB wants Racing Right extended to greyhound racing

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has urged the UK government to extend its Betting Right legislation to cover UK greyhound racing.

Following last week’s announcement of the Betting Right by UK Chancellor George Osbourne, GBGB management showed its support for the introduction of the legislation which would tax funds for wagers placed on UK racing through licensed UK bookmakers.

However GBGB officials stated that the greyhound industry had been frustrated by the lack of consultation from the government with regards to its operations and the introduction of a new betting levy system.

The GBGB issued the following statement with regards to the Betting Right

“The GBGB welcomes the principle of a racing right but believes that it should be extended to include greyhound racing. In the GBGB’s submission to the DCMS ”

“We are aware of – and perplexed by – the Government’s current stance that such a Right should not be extended to any sport other than Horseracing on the grounds that Horseracing has a unique relationship with Betting. We vigorously contend that Horseracing’s so-called uniqueness is a proposition that does not withstand even cursory examination. In fact, the only relevant difference between Horseracing and Greyhound Racing is that the former has a Levy, a source of funding, we would argue, unfairly denied to the latter.”

The GBGB will continue to press for greyhound racing to be included in a racing right and will take legal advice as necessary.