Open letter to Secretary of State for DCMS, Lisa Nandy MP

British racing has written an open letter to DCMS Secretary of State Lisa Nandy, calling on her to pause the introduction of affordability checks which are understood to be signed off by the Gambling Commission next month.

The Gambling Commission’s pilot of these checks – which began in 2024 – has shown that the checks will not be fully frictionless for bettors. Implementing these checks now would do lasting damage to British horseracing by reducing the money flowing into the sport from betting and driving more punters to the growing illegal betting market.

The letter, which has been signed by 408 leading figures across the sport, in addition to supportive politicians, asks the Secretary of State to reconsider the policy.

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Dear Secretary of State,

We are writing to express our deep concern over plans to introduce affordability checks for betting, due to be signed off by the Gambling Commission’s board next month and urge the Government to rethink a policy which will cause lasting damage to British horseracing.

For more than 350 years our sport has enjoyed a uniquely interdependent relationship with betting. A day at the races and a flutter on the horses is something that is deeply embedded in the British way of life. But this cultural, social and economic institution is now at risk if the decision to impose affordability checks for even low levels of betting goes ahead.

It was the last Conservative Government that proposed affordability checks as part of its gambling policy to make betting fit for the digital age.
While the intention was sensible, the delivery has failed. Instead of making it easier and safer for people to have that flutter, regulatory changes have only made it harder.

Little wonder then that growing numbers of people are now betting illegally rather than be subjected to intrusive checks more appropriate for securing a mortgage than engaging in a legal pastime enjoyed by millions of Britons.

Even a survey by the Gambling Commission found 66% of punters saying that they would not feel comfortable about operators using credit reference data.

This unprecedented state intrusion into people’s private lives has dismayed the millions of people who love horseracing. Over 100,000 signed a petition against the checks in 2024, triggering a Westminster Hall debate at which then Minister Stuart Andrew MP said that the checks would only be introduced if they were “truly frictionless”.

The subsequent Gambling Commission pilot of affordability checks involving Credit Ratings Agencies has proved a 100% success rate is not possible. Despite our repeated warnings, the Commission seems intent on pursuing this highly controversial policy regardless of the consequences for Britain’s second most-popular sport.

These proposals would do lasting damage to a major British industry, which provides more than 85,000 jobs, contributes more than £4bn to the country’s economy and is a leader on the world stage.

Your Government demonstrated it recognised this risk when the Chancellor used her Budget to give the Gambling Commission £26m to tackle the burgeoning betting black market. Adding a further layer of regulation right now would be at best a grave misjudgement and at worst, a gift to the criminal underworld that benefits from these illegal betting operations.

The landscape has changed since your Government took office and it is time for us all to work together to find a better solution.
It is not too late for you to reconsider the unintended consequences of your predecessor’s policies and “Save Our Bets” to secure British horseracing’s future.

Yours sincerely,

Nick Timothy MP – Vice Chair, Racing and Bloodstock APPG, Grahame Morris MP – Officer, Racing and Bloodstock APPG, Lee Dillon MP – Member, Racing and Bloodstock APPG, Rt Hon The Lord Herbert of South Downs – Member, Racing and Bloodstock APPG, Jack Rankin MP – Member, Racing and Bloodstock APPG, Rt Hon The Baroness Prentis of Banbury – Member, Racing and Bloodstock APPG, Charlie Dewhirst MP – Member, Racing and Bloodstock APPG, Peter Bedford MP – Member, Racing and Bloodstock APPG, David Jones – Interim Chair, British Horseracing Authority, Brant Dunshea – CEO, British Horseracing Authority, Baroness Harding of Winscombe – Senior Steward, The Jockey Club, Jim Mullen – Group CEO, The Jockey Club, Nadia Powell – Interim CEO, Jockey Club Racecourses, Nick Patton – Managing Director, Jockey Club Estates, Anna Kerr – CEO, The National Stud, Martin Cruddace – CEO, Arena Racing Company, Wilf Walsh – Chair, Racecourse Association, Alex Eade – CEO, Racecourse Association, Delly Innes – CEO, Scottish Racing, Paul Johnson – CEO, National Trainers Federation, Paul Struthers – CEO, Professional Jockeys Association, Dale Gibson – Executive Director (Racing), Professional Jockeys Association, Dawn Goodfellow – CEO, Racing Welfare, Tom Kerr – Editor, Racing Post, Philip Newton – Chair, Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Naomi Mellor – CEO, Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Dr Jim Walker – Chair, Racehorse Owners Association, Louise Norman – CEO, Racehorse Owners Association, Charlie Parker – Board member, Racehorse Owners Association, Sam Hoskins – Board member, Racehorse Owners Association, Stephen Appelbee – Board member, Racehorse Owners Association, Chris Wright – Board member, Racehorse Owners Association, Gay Kelleway – Board member, Racehorse Owners Association, Peter Savill – Board member, Racehorse Owners Association, Mark Johnston – Board member, Racehorse Owners Association, Dan Abraham – Board member, Racehorse Owners Association, Tom Goff – Board member, Racehorse Owners Association, Felicity Barnard – CEO, Ascot Racecourse, David Brown – Managing Director, Ayr Racecourse, Alan MacDonald – Chair, Ayr Racecourse, Richard Johnstone – Director, Ayr Racecourse, Stuart Morrison – Director, Ayr Racecourse, Sally Iggulden – CEO, Beverley Racecourse, Helen Willis – General Manager, Carlisle Racecourse, Rt Hon The Lord Cavendish of Furness – Chair, Cartmel Racecourse, James Sanderson – Executive Director, Catterick Racecourse, Guy Lavender – CEO, Cheltenham Racecourse, Louise Stewart – CEO, Chester Race Company, Jim Allen – General Manager, Epsom Downs Racecourse, Jack Parkinson – General Manager, Exeter Racecourse, David Hunter – CEO, Fakenham Racecourse, Sam Bullard – Chair, Fakenham Racecourse, Susie Wales – Director, Fakenham Racecourse, Ian Mason – Director, Fakenham Racecourse, William Wales – Director, Fakenham Racecourse, Nigel Savory – Director, Fakenham Racecourse, Adam Case – Director, Fakenham Racecourse, Jonathan Barber – Director, Fakenham Racecourse, Jack Bloom – Director, Fakenham Racecourse, Robert Gurney – Director, Fakenham Racecourse, James Crespi – Racecourse Director, Goodwood Racecourse, Simon Tonge – General Manager, Haydock Park Racecourse, Robert Whitelock – Racecourse Manager, Hexham Racecourse, Daniel Craggs – General Manager, Huntingdon Racecourse, Jonathan Garratt – Managing Director, Kelso Racecourse, Simon Durrant – General Manager, Kempton Park Racecourse, Simon Sherwood – Managing Director, Ludlow Racecourse, Lord Boyne – Chair, Ludlow Racecourse, Jack Pryor – General Manager, Market Rasen Racecourse, Shaun Hinds – CEO, Newbury Racecourse, Sophie Able – Newmarket Racecourses and International Director, The Jockey Club, John Baker – CEO, Newton Abbot Racecourse, Peter Austin – Joint Chair, Newton Abbot Racecourse, George Welch – Joint Chair, Newton Abbot Racecourse, Tommy Williams – General Manager, Nottingham and Warwick Racecourses, Matthew Taylor – Director of Racing, Perth Racecourse, Morag Connaghan – Director of Operations, Perth Racecourse, Brian Stevenson – CEO (Scone Estates), Perth Racecourse, Jon Mullin – CEO, Pontefract Racecourse, James Hutchinson – Managing Director, Ripon Racecourse, Andrew Wells – Chair, Ripon Racecourse, Jeremy Martin – Executive Director, Salisbury Racecourse, Sarah Drabwell – General Manager, Sandown Park Racecourse, Ilona Barnett – Managing Director, Stratford Racecourse, Michael Rowe – Chair, Stratford Racecourse, Patrick Davis – Chief Executive Officer, Taunton Racecourse, James Sanderson – Chief Executive Officer, Thirsk Racecourse, Blaithin Murphy – General Manager, Wincanton Racecourse, William Derby – CEO, York Racecourse, Dickon White – Regional Director – North West, The Jockey Club, Patricia Thompson – Breeder, Cheveley Park Stud, Richard Thompson – Breeder, Cheveley Park Stud, Chris Richardson – Stud Manager, Cheveley Park Stud, Peter Stanley – Breeder, New England Stud, Graham Smith-Bernal – Breeder, Newsells Park Stud, Julian Dollar – Stud Manager, Newsells Park Stud, Simon Sweeting – Stud Manager, Overbury Stud, Dan Skelton – Trainer, Hugo Palmer – Trainer, Iain Jardine – Trainer, Jedd O’Keefe – Trainer, John Gosden OBE – Trainer, Karl Burke – Trainer, Lucinda Russell – Trainer, Melanie Rowley – Trainer, Michael Scudamore – Trainer, Paul Nicholls – Trainer, Peter Scudamore – Assistant Trainer, Ralph Beckett – Trainer, Richard Hannon – Trainer, William Haggas – Trainer, Adina Harrison – Racehorse owner, Alastair Bentall – Racehorse owner, Alex Mason – Racehorse owner, Allan Casey – Racehorse owner, Allan Gibson – Racehorse owner, Andrew Bengough – Racehorse owner, Andrew Crofts – Racehorse owner, Andrew Harrison – Racehorse owner, Andrew McGladdery – Racehorse owner, Andrew Newlands – Racehorse owner, Andrew Taylorson – Racehorse owner, Andy Storey – Racehorse owner, Angela Tucker – Racehorse owner, Ann Jukes – Racehorse owner, Anthony Jukes – Racehorse owner, Anna Hawkins – Racehorse owner, Anne Tylden-Wright – Racehorse owner, Anthony Bradford – Racehorse owner, Anthony Champion – Racehorse owner, Anthony Millar – Racehorse owner, AWM Mitchell – Racehorse owner, Barbara Fretwelll – Racehorse owner, Barry Stephen George – Racehorse owner, Barry Swift – Racehorse owner, Belinda Boyd – Racehorse owner, Ben Speke – Racehorse owner, Benjamin P Britcliffe – Racehorse owner, Betley Tim – Racehorse owner, Brian Anderson – Racehorse owner, Brian Ferguson – Racehorse owner, Brian Walsh – Racehorse owner, Bruce Confrey – Racehorse owner, Bruce Stevens – Racehorse owner, Bryan Tait – Racehorse owner, Bumble Mitchell – Racehorse owner, Camilla Brownlow – Racehorse owner, Carl Jones – Racehorse owner, Carol Sutton – Racehorse owner, Caroline Parsons – Racehorse owner, Caroline Ridley – Racehorse owner, Caroline Tisdall – Racehorse owner, Carolyn Elwes – Racehorse owner, Catharine Hutley – Racehorse owner, Charles Gregson – Racehorse owner, Charles Jamieson – Racehorse owner, Charles Stebbing – Racehorse owner, Charles Street – Racehorse owner, Chris Liddle – Racehorse owner, Chris Spark – Racehorse owner, Chris Vallis – Racehorse owner, Christine Annette Barker – Racehorse owner, Christopher Anderson – Racehorse owner, Christopher Andrews – Racehorse owner, Cindy Betley – Racehorse owner, Clare Lewis – Racehorse owner, Clarinda Collin – Racehorse owner, Colin Hord – Racehorse owner, Colin Potts – Racehorse owner, Colin Rogers – Racehorse owner, Compton Hellyer – Racehorse owner, Craig Talbot – Racehorse owner, D L Bayliss – Racehorse owner, Daniel Shackleton – Racehorse owner, Darren Harrison – Racehorse owner, David Craster – Racehorse owner, David Fletcher – Racehorse owner, David Gibson – Racehorse owner, David Jamieson – Racehorse owner, David Preston – Racehorse owner, David Sykes – Racehorse owner, Dawn Williams – Racehorse owner, Derek Gibbons – Racehorse owner, Derek Passant – Racehorse owner, Diana Sanderson – Racehorse owner, Diane Rush – Racehorse owner, Diane Smith – Racehorse owner, Dominic Burke – Racehorse owner, Dr Louise Peace – Racehorse owner, Eddie Minghella – Racehorse owner, Edmund Richardson – Racehorse owner, Elisabeth C Roberts – Racehorse owner, Eliz Hamilton – Racehorse owner, Elizabeth Bishop – Racehorse owner, Elizabeth O’Donnell – Racehorse owner, Elliot Horton – Racehorse owner, Elsa Sherwood – Racehorse owner, Emma Banks – Racehorse owner, Ernest Turner – Racehorse owner, Evan M Sutherland – Racehorse owner, Fiona Hart – Racehorse owner, Fiona Mathews – Racehorse owner, Frances Felicity Simpson – Racehorse owner, Gareth Fowler – Racehorse owner, Gavin Graham – Racehorse owner, Geoff Good – Racehorse owner, Geoff Walker – Racehorse owner, Geoffrey Howson – Racehorse owner and Hon. President, Federation of Bloodstock Agents (GB), George Critchley – Racehorse owner, Gerald Shearing – Racehorse owner, Gerard Strahan – Racehorse owner, Gill Burgess – Racehorse owner, Graham Crabtree – Racehorse owner, Graham Frankland – Racehorse owner, Heather Blackburn – Racehorse owner, Heather Little – Racehorse owner, Hilary James – Racehorse owner, Howell Jenkins – Racehorse owner, Hugh Steven – Racehorse owner, Ian Barker – Racehorse owner, Ian Jones – Racehorse owner, Ian Ruddock – Racehorse owner, Ian Smith – Racehorse owner, Ian Stewart – Racehorse owner, Jacqueline Abbott – Racehorse owner, James Fyffe – Racehorse owner, James Hazeldine – Racehorse owner, James Scott – Racehorse owner, James Wigan – Racehorse owner, Jane Collier – Racehorse owner, Jane Fawcett – Racehorse owner, Jane Hodgson – Racehorse owner, Jane Sheppard – Racehorse owner, Jane Williams – Racehorse owner, Jason Goddard – Racehorse owner, Jean-Philippe Ramdas – Racehorse owner, Jenny Hicks Beach – Racehorse owner, Jenny Lupton – Racehorse owner, Jeremy Ker – Racehorse owner, Jeremy Lowry – Racehorse owner, Jim Bryce – Racehorse owner, Joanna Humphrey – Racehorse owner, Joanna Whittington – Racehorse owner, John Docherty – Racehorse owner, John Findlay – Racehorse owner, John Finerty – Racehorse owner, John Monk – Racehorse owner, John Perriss – Racehorse owner, John Rawson – Racehorse owner, John Rodgers – Racehorse owner, John P Romans – Racehorse owner, John Smith – Racehorse owner, John Ydlibi – Racehorse owner, John-Paul Mathieson – Racehorse owner, Jon Rea – Racehorse owner, Jonathan Carey – Racehorse owner, Jonathan Gregory – Racehorse owner, Jonathan Mitchell – Racehorse owner, Julian Bishop – Racehorse owner, Julie Hoskins – Racehorse owner, Katharine M S Oliver – Racehorse owner, Katie Glaze – Racehorse owner, Keith Baker – Racehorse owner, Keith Brown – Racehorse owner, Kelvin Cousins – Racehorse owner, Ken O’Donoughue – Racehorse owner, Kevin Coyle – Racehorse owner, Kevin Merritt – Racehorse owner, Kevin Watt – Racehorse owner, Kim Welsh – Racehorse owner, Kyle Solloway – Racehorse owner, Lance Beasley – Racehorse owner, Lavinia Taylor – Racehorse owner, Lee Watson – Racehorse owner, Liz Rea – Racehorse owner, Luke Lillingston – Racehorse owner, Lynn Lambert – Racehorse owner, Magie Sutherland – Racehorse owner, Malcolm McMaster – Racehorse owner, Maninder Singh – Racehorse owner, Marc Chan – Racehorse owner, Marise Bostock – Racehorse owner, Mark Baker – Racehorse owner, Mark Barlow – Racehorse owner, Mark Darley – Racehorse owner, Mark Fenning – Racehorse owner, Mark Thomas – Racehorse owner, Martyn Chapman – Racehorse owner, Mary Dulverton – Racehorse owner, Melinda Wilson – Racehorse owner, Melissa Brownlow – Racehorse owner, Michael Rogers – Racehorse owner, Michael Buckley – Racehorse owner, Michael Craggs – Racehorse owner, Michael Harris – Racehorse owner, Michael Mundell – Racehorse owner, Michael Sadler – Racehorse owner, Mike Elliott – Racehorse owner, Mike Willmott – Racehorse owner, Miranda Ker – Racehorse owner, Neal Grayston – Racehorse owner, Neil Stuart – Racehorse owner, Nick Brown – Racehorse owner, Nick Browne – Racehorse owner, Nick Hill – Racehorse owner, Nicola Howard-Jones – Racehorse owner, Nigel Galvin – Racehorse owner, Nigel Howard-Jones – Racehorse owner, Nigel Purdham – Racehorse owner, Olivia Hoare – Racehorse owner, Lady Pamela Hewitt – Racehorse owner, Patricia Goodyear – Racehorse owner, Patricia Huxley – Racehorse owner, Paul Bulmer – Racehorse owner, Paul Claydon – Racehorse owner, Paul Huxley – Racehorse owner, Paul Inglett – Racehorse owner, Paul Kingston – Racehorse owner, Paul Maughan – Racehorse owner, Paul Nicholson – Racehorse owner, Paul Nodding – Racehorse owner, Paul Spaldin – Racehorse owner, Paul Tinnion – Racehorse owner, Paul Yates – Racehorse owner, Pauline Mason – Racehorse owner, Penelope Aikenhead – Racehorse owner, Penelope Finerty – Racehorse owner, Peter Dawson – Racehorse owner, Peter Humphrey – Racehorse owner, Peter Fenton – Racehorse owner, Peter Gray – Racehorse owner, Peter Kerr – Racehorse owner, Peter Lowndes – Racehorse owner, Peter Onslow – Racehorse owner, Peter Rowberry – Racehorse owner, Peter Walker – Racehorse owner, Peter Winkworth – Racehorse owner, Petra Jaggard – Racehorse owner, Petronella Jameson – Racehorse owner, Phil Smith – Racehorse owner, Philip Currah – Racehorse owner, Philip Hawthorne – Racehorse owner, Phillip Rhodes – Racehorse owner, Philip Rowley – Racehorse owner, Richard Beamish – Racehorse owner, Richard Bewick – Racehorse owner, Richard George Maxwell Finn – Racehorse owner, Richard Hoskins – Racehorse owner, Richard Hutchings – Racehorse owner, Richard May – Racehorse owner, Ricky Zinger – Racehorse owner, Rob Hawman – Racehorse owner, Robbie Lee – Racehorse owner, Robert Dean – Racehorse owner, Robert Dunn – Racehorse owner, Robert Kirk – Racehorse owner, Robert Speers – Racehorse owner, Robert Waley-Cohen – Racehorse owner, Ronald Crossley – Racehorse owner, Ronald Parnaby – Racehorse owner, Ronnie McCurdy – Racehorse owner, Ros Hargreaves – Racehorse owner, Rosamund Day – Racehorse owner, Rosemary Fetherston-Dilke – Racehorse owner, Rosemary Lowry – Racehorse owner, Rosemary Smyth – Racehorse owner, Sally Bruce – Racehorse owner, Sally White – Racehorse owner, Samantha De La Hey – Racehorse owner, Sandra Hames – Racehorse owner, Sara Spratt – Racehorse owner, Sara Tremlett – Racehorse owner, Sarah Humphrey – Racehorse owner, Sarah Stebbing – Racehorse owner, Serena Underwood – Racehorse owner, Sharon Fellowes – Racehorse owner, Sharon May – Racehorse owner, Shaun Harvey – Racehorse owner, Sheena Pilkington – Racehorse owner, Simon Sampson – Racehorse owner, Simon Collins – Racehorse owner, Simon de Zoete – Racehorse owner, Stephen Blackburn – Racehorse owner, Stephen Darbyshire – Racehorse owner, Stephen David Bradley – Racehorse owner, Stephen Greaves – Racehorse owner, Stephen Laws – Racehorse owner, Stephen Lawson – Racehorse owner, Stephen Neel – Racehorse owner, Steven Harrison – Racehorse owner, Steven Johnson – Racehorse owner, Steven Milnes – Racehorse owner, Stewart Smith – Racehorse owner, Stuart Whaley – Racehorse owner, Susan Bucknall – Racehorse owner, Teresa Dawson – Racehorse owner, Tessa Taylor – Racehorse owner, Tom Floyd – Racehorse owner, Tom King – Racehorse owner, Trisha Keane – Racehorse owner, Ursula Milne Home – Racehorse owner, Valerie Jackson – Racehorse owner, Valerie Renwick – Racehorse owner, Victoria Wooldridge – Racehorse owner, Vimal Khosla – Racehorse owner, Virginia Graham – Racehorse owner, Wayne Woods – Racehorse owner, William Duffy – Racehorse owner, Wynne Tufnell – Racehorse owner, Zac McArdle – Racehorse owner.