Horserace Betting Levy Board

About the HBLB
The HBLB is a statutory body established by the Betting Levy Act 1961 and now operating in accordance with the provisions of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 (as amended). Unlike some other non-departmental public bodies, the HBLB receives no central Government grant-in-aid and no National Lottery funding. Instead, it is required by the Act to collect a statutory levy from the horseracing business of bookmakers and the Tote successor company which it then distributes for the improvement of horseracing and breeds of horses and for the advancement of veterinary science and education.

For the financial year 2010/11 the Levy was distributed as follows:

	£'000
TOTAL	83,809
Prize Money	48,963
Integrity Services	21,835
Racecourses	3,910
Administration	3,403
Improvement of breeds	1,245
Veterinary	1,009
Training	892
Other	2,017
Bookmakers' Committee	535

Bookmakers’ Committee
The Bookmakers’ Committee is responsible for making annual recommendations to the HBLB regarding the terms, rates and conditions which will apply to the next Levy Scheme. It has 13 members representing the major companies and trade associations in the betting industry.

Prize Money
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The HBLB provides some 50% of the total prize money in each calendar year.

Integrity Services
The HBLB provides grants to racecourses to help cover regulation and integrity costs including camera patrol and photo finish equipment and the fees charged by the British Horseracing Authority for its services such as raceday veterinary and security officials and drug testing.

50th and 51st Levy Scheme
The terms of the 51st Levy Scheme (1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013) were agreed on 31st October 2011. Details of the Scheme can be found here. A statement made by the three Government Appointed Members (GAMs) of the Horserace Betting Levy Board on the 51st Levy Scheme can be found here.

The Determination of the 50th Levy Scheme was announced by Government in February 2011. Click here for further details. Submissions relating to the 50th Levy Scheme can be found here.

Veterinary Science and Education
For some 50 years the HBLB has supported the health and welfare of the Thoroughbred horse by targeting funding into priority areas of equine veterinary research and training. A series of articles has been published in Equine Veterinary Journal and these are now available free in a virtual issue online: HBLB's Advances in Equine Veterinary Science and Practice Review Series

Applications are now open for equine veterinary research awards. Further information can be found on the Equine Research Projects web pages.

Capital Fund
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The HBLB supports the improvement of racecourses by way of interest-free loans from its £51 million Capital Fund.

Industry Training and Education
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The successful breeding, training and racing of thoroughbreds relies on numerous grooms, riders and jockeys with specialist skills and knowledge. Their recruitment and training is substantially funded through the Levy, as is Racing's schools education programme.

Breeders’ Prizes
The promotion and success of British breeding on a global scale is assisted by the HBLB's provision of annual funding for a Breeders' Prizes Scheme.

Betting Exchanges Consultation
The consultation closed on 20th September 2010 (with a period permitted for further representations until 23rd November 2010).

Responses to the consultation and further submissions (including documents published by HBLB on 27th May 2011) can be found by clicking here.