British MPs & Industry At Odds On UK Horse Racing Future

Parliament revising UK gambling laws is a populist move at a time Brexit isn’t making them popular. Unfortunately, this means MPs are not very popular amongst the gambling industry at present. In protection of their profits, the industry is strident in its criticism of current proposals. None more so than racing. Indeed they warn that perhaps this will lead to sites like Bet365 being unable to offer odds on UK horse racing at all. But is that even remotely close to being true?

They’ve taken one look at the proposals and created a stock letter for those interested to sign and send in. Alas, perhaps unfortunately for online betting sites in the UK like Bet365, this carefully worded missive, however, doesn’t always strike the right tone. MPs may take more umbrage with that than they will with some of the claims. They know dire predictions of calamity and collapse are par for the course, but this goes beyond that. It may end up doing far more damage than good.

Gambling Commission Gets Tough With Limits

“The Gambling Commission’s proposed action would be disproportionate to the small number of people who suffer harm from betting on racing,” says the letter. Which, you might spot, basically dismisses any harm they may cause. Just not their problem, apparently. The odds on UK horse racing winning any friends amongst MPs with that sentiment are questionable. It won’t have helped they continued; “as well as being a very significant invasion on personal liberty in the free society in which we live.” Oh dear.

“The proposals put forward by the Gambling Commission could result in more than £60m in direct losses to the British racing industry.”

• Stock Letter Prepared For Sending To British MPs

Lecturing MPs on society is never wise. Free ones or otherwise. Oh and equating personal liberty with the freedom to lose all you possess gambling is simply childish. As is denying you’re really gambling based at all. Racing, the letter claims, is skill based and shouldn’t be tarred by casino and online gaming. This is ridiculously disingenuous. As if those checking out the odds on UK horse racing at online sportsbook sites in the UK like Bet365 weren’t actually gambling at all. 

All The Odds On UK Horse Racing Are Available At Bet365

“We are clear on the need for gambling companies to take further action.” The Gambling Commission insists. They’re brooking no arguments despite claiming they wish to “have an open discussion with the gambling industry”. They wish to “strike the right balance between allowing consumer freedom and ensuring that there are protections in place to prevent gambling harm.” Which is laudable. The odds on UK horse racing agreeing where that balance lies are just silly.

“They are not taking the appropriate action or acting quickly enough when they do identify risks of potential harm.”

• The UK Gambling Commission

Those who regularly bet on sports in the UK, and check out the odds on UK horse racing at Bet365 or similar, will by and large not mind the change. The proposed £100 loss limit is a little harsh but entirely fair. It’s certainly a little more realistic than the £2,000 limit suggested by the gambling industry. This isn’t the first time the 59 race courses in the UK have banded together to protest changes. However, after the year we’ve all had, and the concern with others it has engendered, this seems woefully out of step.

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The odds on UK horse racing being happy with the proposed changes to UK gambling laws were never that short, but now you’d need binoculars to see them.