Cruddace airs concerns on gambling review

TOP racing administrator Martin Cruddace has warned the sport may run the risk of ‘throwing the baby out with the bathwater’ if affordability checks for punters are introduced in isolation.

Cruddace was speaking on Sky Sports Racing as part of a discussion assessing measures under consideration by the Gambling Commission to ensure gamblers do not bet drastically more than they can afford.

He and other contributors to the Racing Debate programme welcome the prospect of a Gambling Review which is likely to update the 2005 Gambling Act, to take account of major developments to the market place – such as the vastly-increased prevalence of online betting. But Cruddace, chief executive of Arena Racing Company, is concerned that unilateral action – in advance of the Gambling Review – could reduce annual racing revenue by up to £100million.

A report published by accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has cited a loss of £60m – and Cruddace believes that figure may prove conservative.

He said: “If it’s potentially likely that the affordability levels are not right for people who bet on horseracing, we could see the turnover on British horseracing being decimated.

“While of course we need to do everything we can for problem gamblers, we have to be very careful that we don’t effectively throw the baby out with the bathwater.

“In my view, it’s much better if the affordability consultation and the review happen together.”

“The £60million, if it’s wrong, is low,” Cruddace added. “I think it’s probably more likely to be £100million. I’ve done those calculations – and I promise you £60million is the absolute conservative figure.”