NEWS 2021
18th June 2021
ARC message for on course bookmakers
Following the recent government announcement of a further delay to the full lifting of restrictions ARC are pleased to announce that we will continue with our current policy of not charging a Daily Betting Badge fee for on course bookmakers and their staff up to and including the 18thJuly (a maximum of 3 people including the bookmaker allowed).
From the 19th July ARC will reintroduce the Daily Betting Badge fee at a rate of 3 x public admission price across all our racecourses, this rate will remain in place until the end of August.
On the 1st September normal Daily Betting Badge fees will be reintroduced along with the Annual Marketing Fee across all ARC racecourses.
Please note that the Daily Betting Badge fees and the Annual Marketing Fee will no longer be payable by cash and the process for payment will be confirmed before fees are reintroduced on the 19th July.
To accommodate social distancing rules we will continue to operate a maximum capacity of 50% of bookmaker pitches until the 19th July.
17th May 2021
Important Message for All Bookmakers : Opting In and Out
As you are aware, all bookmakers are required to comply with an ‘Opt-In’ process to bet at racecourses during the period from 17th May to 20th June. Please note that all bookmakers who have opted in will be expected to attend, as a failure to attend will prevent the next bookmaker on the list from trading. Any bookmaker who fails to Opt-Out - having previously Opted In – risks sanctions under Special Conditions E if there is no reasonable excuse for non-attendance.
For Rule 4, we will go with the industry Rule 4 for at least the 5 weeks from 17th May to 20th June. As before, the BRM will confirm the details with the PA rep as quickly as possible and relay the R4 message to the Broadcast Office asap. Where practical/possible, the BRM will also let the on-course bookmakers know the Rule 4 deduction.
30th April 2021
ARC Announcement
ARC are pleased to announce that there will be no entry fees for on course bookmakers and their staff (up to a maximum of 3 people including the bookmaker) when the next stage of covid restrictions are lifted on the 17th May across all ARC racecourses.
This will be reviewed for fixtures from the 21st June onwards based on any restrictions that may still be in place from that date.
ARC will stagger the reintroduction of on course bookmaker entry fees on, or after the 21st June, so that they gradually increase to normal levels in stages rather than in one go.
In addition to this ARC will not be charging any marketing fees to on course bookmakers until the 1st September this year.
To accommodate social distancing rules we will operate a maximum capacity of 50% of bookmaker pitches until the 21st June at the earliest. Spectator numbers are restricted to a maximum of 4,000 between 17th May and 21st June and actual attendances will be determined by each individual racecourse in line with COVID restrictions.
Jim Proudfoot
14th April 2021
FRB Update
The FRB have made a number of submissions on behalf of its members over the last few weeks. We have finalised our submission on the Gambling Act 2005 review and included a number of recommendations.
The FRB has also made a submission on the proposal by the Gambling Commission to increase fees from 2021 and voiced our concerns and objections to this proposal.
Most bookmakers will have seen many news articles regarding a proposal to restrict losses by individuals when gambling and the FRB has made a submission to the DCMS with strong reservations and concerns that this would not be practical and would be damaging to our industry as a whole.
We continue to support our members' interests through these difficult times and look forward to us all returning to the racecourse soon.
Keep safe and well.
FRB Directors.
14th April 2021
Problem Gambling
The FRB thought it would be helpful to issue guidance in order to make you aware of the signs of problem gambling in order for you to respond accordingly - click here for details.
25th March 2021
Additional Restriction Grants
"The FRB has sought further clarification with regard to the Additional Restriction Grants available from local authorities. The latest advice from the DCMS is that these grants are available to bookmakers for each racecourse they hold a list position but have been unable to operate due to COVID-19 restrictions and that applications should be made to each individual local authority"
As always, we strongly recommend that you seek independent professional advice in order to assist your claims.
The FRB Directors.
12th January 2021
FRB raise questions in the House of Commons.
The Parliamentary Questions drafted by us for Mark Eastwood MP have been answered.
For FRB members, this provides further information on eligibility for the latest Government grants, which the Chancellor announced last week. This can be used when applying to your Local Authority for the second grant. It would appear from the Minister’s response that if you have been eligible for the first grant you will be automatically be eligible for the second.
Bookmakers: Additional Restrictions Grant
Mark Eastwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether on-course bookmakers are eligible for Additional Restrictions Grant funding; and whether guidance on eligibility requirements has been provided to local authorities.
Mark Eastwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support is available to (a) on-course bookmakers and (b) other businesses that are unable to work as a result of restrictions on sporting events but have not been ordered to close during the covid-19 outbreak.
Nigel Huddleston: The Chancellor announced on 5 January another £4.5 billion in new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs. This includes one-off top up grants to be delivered by local authorities for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, worth up to £9,000 per property, to help them through to the spring. A £594 million discretionary fund has also been made available to support other impacted businesses. Local authorities will receive the funding for these one-off grants next week, and we encourage them to make payments to businesses as soon as possible. All local authorities in England will receive a top-up worth a total of £500m to their allocation from the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), which has already provided local authorities with £1.1 billion. This funding will ensure that local authorities can make discretionary grants to businesses which are not eligible for the LRSG (Closed) but which are nonetheless experiencing a severe impact on their business due to the national lockdown. Eligibility for the one-off grants, as well as the existing LRSG (Closed) grants, is automatic. Businesses should contact their local authorities for more information on how to receive these grants, and in some cases they will need to provide additional information to their LAs. Local authorities will run application schemes for the ARG, including for the £500m top-up, and will have significant discretion when it comes to deciding which businesses receive payments. Businesses should contact their local authorities for more information. ARG guidance for LAs was first published on 3rd November 2019 and is updated regularly:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-restrictions-support-grants-lrsg-and-additional-restrictions-grant-arg-guidance-for-local-authorities
7th January 2021
The FRB have obtained further advice on bookmakers' behalves with regard to new proposed government financial assistance to businesses:
Information from The Treasury
