Horserace Betting Levy Board

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Current Document: Levy Collection
The HBLB raises money by collecting a statutory levy from off-course betting on British horseracing, the Tote, and on-course bookmakers. Off-course betting includes bets placed at Licensed Betting Offices, spread betting firms and bet broking operations, including Betting Exchanges. The levy on off-course bets represents the greatest proportion of the HBLB's income. Levy is collected from bookmakers as a percentage of their gross profits on British horserace betting business. The majority of levy income is expended in direct support of horseracing.

Each year, the Bookmakers' Committee formulates proposals for the next Levy Scheme in accordance with the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963. They recommend the categories, rates, conditions and definitions of the Scheme for the following year and then forward them to the HBLB for consideration. The HBLB takes into account the funding needs of racing and the bookmakers' capacity to pay levy before any agreement is made. The Bookmakers' Committee prepare a forecast of the amount of on-course and off-course horseracing gross profit, both cash and credit, which is likely to be achieved in the levy year concerned. A Scheme is then prepared for the forthcoming Levy period commencing 1st April.

In the event that agreement of the Scheme cannot be reached by 31 October, the Scheme is automatically referred to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for determination, and their decision is imposed.

Levy Yield 10-year Record

	Levy Yield £'m
2008/09	91.6
2007/08	115.3
2006/07	99.2
2005/06	99.3
2004/05	105.6
2003/04	110.7
2002/03	79.9
2001/02	72.9
2000/01	60.3
1999/00	59.4

Yield is inclusive of Tote contribution.