When I visited Bath Racecourse I heard first-hand their concerns that the proposals to tax racecourse betting at the same rate as online gambling would risk harming the horse racing industry, a proud national sport.
Venues like Bath Racecourse play an important role in our local economy and community, they need our backing not higher taxes.
That’s why I called for a debate in Parliament ahead of the Budget and wrote to the Chancellor urging her to reconsider these plans.
I’m pleased that, in the Budget, the Chancellor chose to raise Remote Gaming Duty while leaving taxes on horse-race betting unchanged. This is a welcome decision for the racing sector and for the local economies and communities where the sport provides such great benefits.
