In an astonishing development – EFRA have urged Sports Minister Tracey Crouch to seek a greyhound levy equivalent to 1% of gross turnover (not profit!!) to prevent ‘profiteering’ on greyhound racing writes Floyd Amphlett.
That request comes in the form of a letter – dated yesterday – in which the Government department draws attention to the GBGB’s publication of its injury and retirement data.
The Government Department make clear their ambitions that the greyhound industry should reduce the number of euthanased greyhounds and are suggesting that the betting industry should foot the bill.
For years Government disputed that greyhound racing was due a levy as ‘greyhound racing largely takes place at night’ When that argument was latterly dismissed in a review of the industry, it was determined that the introduction of a new levy would be contrary to European legislation as it basically amounted to state funding. That argument disappears with Brexit,
Following the scrapping of the Horse Race Levy, that industry now receives its funding via the Horserace Betting Regulations 2017 – the legislation which effectively closed the loophole on companies avoiding Gross Profit Tax on internet betting by operating from foreign locations – primarily Gilbraltar.
