British Horseracing Authority chief executive Brant Dunshea has warned that the Gambling Commission’s decision to implement financial risk assessments on UK bettors could have severe financial implications for British racing.
The BHA issued its response on Tuesday, 7 July, after the regulator confirmed it intended to proceed with what racing has widely called affordability checks.
Dunshea said the governing body was hugely disappointed and argued that racing bettors would face unwarranted levels of intrusion.
In the BHA statement on financial risk assessments, Dunshea said the sport had repeatedly warned government about the possible impact on racing and its fanbase through consultations over several years.
Racing Fears Black-Market Drift
The BHA’s central concern is that checks which are not fully frictionless could push customers away from regulated betting and towards illegal operators.
Dunshea said that would increase the risk of gambling-related harm while reducing tax revenue and weakening two industries worth billions to the UK economy.
The governing body also criticised the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, saying a policy decision of this scale should have received parliamentary scrutiny.
It linked the decision to wider frustrations over the Horserace Betting Levy, which British racing has argued needs reform to help the sport remain internationally competitive.
The next stage is implementation. The BHA said it will work with DCMS, the Gambling Commission and betting operators, but its public position is clear: this is now a live financial threat to British racing, not a distant policy argument.
