ON-COURSE bookmakers are asking racecourses to lower or cancel pitch fees and other charges in recognition of the impact of Covid-19 on racecourse attendance and betting ring turnover.

In normal times bookmakers must pay each racecourse five times the general admission fee before setting up their pitch. This is typically €75-€100 and is charged even if the bookmaker does not take up his allocated position. In addition, bookmakers must hand over 0.25% of their turnover.

Bookmakers only returned to the track this summer after approximately 15 months away, and an agreement was struck with the Association of Irish Racecourses on a phased reintroduction of the bookmaker charges.

From October 22nd, full charges are due to be applied but the Irish National Professional Bookmakers Association [INPBA] says that business is not strong enough to justify it. Following a meeting after racing at Punchestown this week, the INPBA wrote to the Association of Irish Racecourses [AIR] seeking a new agreement.

Clonmel bookmaker Jerry McDonnell, an INPBA committee member, said: “We estimate that it will take a long time for attendances and the betting ring to recover. At the moment, it is not viable to have a full betting ring. It was so bad at one recent Curragh meeting that some bookmakers went home. It is unfair to make bookmakers pay ‘in absence’ when the crowds are so small.

“We have written to AIR to ask them to either reduce the pitch fees or scrap the payment in absence rule altogether. We need this if the betting ring is to survive. The racecourses are in receipt of massive amounts of exchequer money. They don’t need to be charging us this much.

“Their failure to listen to us and act has led to absolute destruction in the betting ring. Pitches which cost tens of thousands are now worthless. We are being treated disgracefully. This is an attack on the betting ring and on rural Ireland. People won’t go racing if there are no bookmakers and no atmosphere.”

Integral

Conor O’Neill, AIR chairman, confirmed the Association has had contact from the bookmakers this week on the issue of fees. He said: “Racecourses very much consider the betting ring to be an integral part of the racecourse experience and we are committed to finding long-term solutions that work for both parties to ensure that the ring remains strong into the future.

“This has been an on-going issue and one which needs to be addressed for all concerned and we have set up a sub-committee within AIR to focus primarily on this.

“We appreciate it has been very challenging times for on-course bookmakers in recent years and Covid-19 has not benefited that either.

“When bookmakers returned to the track this summer, AIR agreed to suspend the pitch rules initially and there were no charges applied. All parties then agreed to fees being reintroduced as the attendance limits increased thereafter, but solely to those bookmakers who decided to attend a race meeting, up to October 22nd.

“We are currently reviewing the situation thereafter although the reality is that in many cases it’s not a viable business proposition and that is the bigger problem.

“What is needed here is a long-term solution, a mechanism that helps promote and sustain the betting ring long into the future for the benefit of all concerned, as opposed to short term solutions that essentially prolong its demise. Although finding a solution that works for all parties and getting an agreement on that is not easy.”