Horserace Betting Levy Board

 

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Current Document: About the HBLB
The HBLB is a UK statutory body that was established by the Betting Levy Act 1961. It operates in accordance with the provisions of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 (as amended). It is a non-departmental public body, and its sponsoring Government department is the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The original intention of establishing the levy, and therefore the HBLB, was to provide a means of compensating racing for the loss of attendance that was anticipated when off-course betting shops were legalised in 1961. Today, the HBLB applies levy funds to a wide range of schemes in direct support of horseracing.

The HBLB raises money by collecting a statutory levy on off-course betting on horseracing, and on the Tote and on-course bookmakers. Off course betting includes bets placed with Licensed Betting Offices, spread betting firms and bet broking operations. The levy on off-course betting represents the greatest proportion of the HBLB's income. It is collected from bookmakers as a percentage of the gross profit on their horserace betting business. The majority of levy income is expended in direct support of horseracing. The HBLB is among the most important contributors to horseracing's finances.

The HBLB's statutory objectives are to collect the levy from bookmakers and the Tote and to apply the funds so raised to one or more of the following:

• the improvement of horseracing;
• the improvement of breeds of horses;
• the advancement or encouragement of veterinary science or veterinary education.

The levy is collected in accordance with a formal, annual Levy Scheme. The levy is distributed each year in accordance with the HBLB's annual agreed Policy Statement. Some 90% of levy income is applied to the improvement of horseracing each year.

The HBLB's strategic objectives and its income, expenditure and policy objectives are set out in its Policy Statement, which is reviewed annually.