BHA Reports Urgent Drop in Betting Turnover Amid Industry Struggles

UPDATE: The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has just released its Q3 2025 Racing Report, revealing a significant 4.2% decline in year-to-date betting turnover, compared to the previous year. This alarming trend underscores the ongoing challenges facing the racing industry.

The report highlights that total betting turnover has plunged 12.8% when compared to the same period in 2023. This decline is compounded by a 5.8% drop in average turnover per race since 2024, raising concerns about the industry’s financial health.

The BHA attributes these declines to new affordability checks that have led to a reduction in high-stakes bettors, shifting consumer focus towards larger racedays. Notably, the turnover for Premier Fixtures has surged by 2.7%, while Core Fixtures have suffered an 8.6% drop in average turnover per race.

Despite these challenges, there are glimmers of hope. The industry saw a 4.9% increase in race attendances, rising from 3.9 million to 4.1 million. The BHA reported that average crowd sizes at Premium Fixtures grew by 5.3% to 697, and Core Fixtures saw a 4.4% increase to 107.

Viewership has also spiked, with The Cheltenham Festival achieving its highest peak audience in four years at 1.8 million, while The Derby reached its biggest viewership in two years with 1.3 million viewers.

The report further indicates that the average field size at Flat meetings for Premier Fixtures has risen to 10.97, the highest in recent years, though Jump meetings saw a slight decline. Conversely, Core Fixtures reported a drop in average field size for both Flat and Jump meetings.

In a positive turn, nearly 100 more races have been run in 2025, boosting total prize money by GBP 4.7 million to GBP 153 million. However, the BHA also highlighted a troubling trend: a continuous decline in the horse population, down roughly 1.5% annually since 2022.

As the BHA navigates these issues, it remains staunchly opposed to proposed tax hikes, specifically the Remote Betting & Gaming Duty (RBGD), which they argue could inflict “irreparable damage” to the sector. In an urgent letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the BHA expressed its grave concerns about the impact of such measures.

WHAT’S NEXT: The BHA is actively exploring solutions to address the industry’s challenges, but these initiatives will take time to implement. Stakeholders and fans alike are encouraged to stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops.