Commenting on Government鈥檚 Response to the Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Gambling Bill, BHB Chief Executive Greg Nichols said today:
鈥淕overnment鈥檚 unwillingness to agree to implement the Joint Committee鈥檚 recommendation for a threshold beyond which a 鈥榣ay鈥� on a betting exchange is regarded as non-recreational will do little to reduce the incentive for certain individuals to attempt malpractice. Racing is damaged if a malevolent act takes place, regardless of the outcome of any subsequent investigation process.
鈥淕overnment has said that it proposes that all exchange users should be identified and registered so that 鈥榠nformation about accounts or transactions can be reported to the Gambling Commission or particular individuals can be notified to the Commission if required鈥�. While this is welcome, it does mean that, at the point where a horse is laid to lose by someone with knowledge that their bet is certain to profit, there is no restriction on the amount that the individual can stand to win, and thus nothing to protect Racing鈥檚 integrity.
鈥淲e will continue to support the views of the members of the Joint Committee as the Gambling Bill goes forward and we urge Government, and in due course the Gambling Commission, to address key integrity issues which remain outstanding.鈥�
