British racing’s online turnover decline slows as on-course betting reaches 15-year high
Digital racing stakes fell only 0.4 per cent in the latest year, while racecourse turnover climbed to £270m. The mixed result comes as betting-shop closures and possible tax rises put pressure on the sport’s funding.
Online betting turnover on horseracing in Britain fell 0.4 per cent to £7.85bn in the 12 months to March 2026, slowing sharply from the previous year’s decline of nearly 6 per cent.
The latest UK Gambling Commission figures show that racing remained behind the broader remote betting market, where turnover rose five per cent to £24.97bn. Turnover from online football betting was up two per cent to £10.15bn, as reported by the Racing Post.
Racing’s online gross gambling yield (GGY) moved in the opposite direction to turnover, increasing by nearly one per cent to £769.3m. Overall online betting GGY declined seven per cent to £2.45bn.
Online racing turnover stood at £10.01bn in 2021/22, more than £2bn above its current level.
On-course turnover rose from £240m to £270m, its highest level since 2011. On-course GGY increased 9 per cent to £28.96m, extending a period of growth at racecourse betting rings.
Over-the-counter horseracing turnover at betting shops fell by 3.65 per cent, reaching £2.9bn. In March, Britain had 5,617 betting shops, compared with 5,825 a year earlier, before Betfred and Paddy Power announced further closures.
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