British launch inquiry into on-course betting
Sunday July 29 2007
AN inquiry into on-course betting in Britain is to be held over fears that bookmakers could lose their livelihoods because of new gambling laws.
The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee of MPs will hold the inquiry over claims that independent bookmakers will lose their on-course betting pitches at racecourses.
It is said they stand to lose their pitching rights as a consequence of the UK Gambling Act. They currently own the valuable pitches after buying them from the racecourses.
The Committee will look at the effects of proposals from the Racecourse Association that on-course pitches be allocated on a commercial basis and if the courses made promises to bookmakers over the security of their pitches.
It will also examine what role the Government should have in the process for agreeing a future framework for the allocations.
The Committee's Tory chairman John Whittingdale said: "There have been concerns raised that bookmakers' livelihoods will be under threat. They have spent a great deal of money on these pitches.
"We intend to hold a short inquiry into this rather specialist area and our report should be ready by the end of the year."
The inquiry will take evidence from across the industry in November.
