ARC Facing Media Rights Blackout with Several UK Bookmakers

A dispute over media rights could be set to spiral, with independent bookmakers potentially joining Betfred in scrapping the showing of live pictures from 21 racecourses in their betting shops at the end of the month.

Betfred is no longer broadcasting races from Arena Racing Company (ARC), following the expiration of its media deal with the racecourse owner. ARC owns 16 British racetracks, and sells footage from races at its tracks to bookmakers. It is the majority owner of television service The Racing Partnership Limited (TRP).

What’s the issue?

However, there is currently an impasse due to differences in what bookmakers are willing to pay for these rights, and what ARC is valuing the rights at. Betfred reportedly refused to agree to a 30% increase in the cost of the media rights.

Reports suggest ARC is experiencing a troubled relationship with operators, after ARC CEO Martin Cruddace potentially became too close with gambling-harm campaigners ahead of the Autumn Budget. On top of the dispute with Betfred, reports have also emerged suggesting two more independent bookmakers have also refused to agree to a 30% increase in the cost of the rights.

Knock on from tax rises

A potential reason for the operators being hesitant to pay the increase is due to what was announced in the Autumn Budget in November. In that Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced upcoming tax increases for the UK gambling industry. In April 2026, remote gaming duty, paid on bets on online casino games, will almost double from 21% to 40%.

This will be followed by an increase in general betting duty in April 2027, paid on bets on online sports betting, which will go up from 15% to 25%. Horseracing will be excluded from that increase, but the overall impact will potentially lead to operators finding it too difficult to make profit from offering horseracing betting to the same extent they have done previously.

TRP’s recent accounts show a stagnation in the takings it has made from bookmakers, with turnover for 2024 decreasing slightly from £61.6 million £61.4 million. From this total, £46.7 million was paid back into the racetracks. Within the latest company accounts, TRP mentioned how issues with the cost of living in the UK has put pressure on spending habits, upon which the company relies.
Flutter dispute

This is not the first time in recent history that ARC has had an issue with one of the UK’s leading operators. In 2024, Flutter Entertainment removed racing betting on a fixture at Bath with its Paddy Power and Sky Bet brands, which it said was “due to the increase in costs associated with certain aspects of our horse racing proposition.” Following this, Sky Bet offered prices on races at Yarmouth 15 minutes before each race at the starting price (SP) only.

Following legal intervention from ARC, Flutter then offered SP-only betting with Paddy Power and Sky Bet. The current dispute seems far more problematic though, as once contracts expire, there is very little ARC can do if the operator does not deem it can feasibly justify paying the cost of the rights.

Horseracing’s economic troubles

This dispute is a sign of how horseracing in the UK has economic struggles to contend with. There has been discussion inside the industry recently regarding the future of Kempton Park racecourse, with Jockey Club CEO Jim Mullen saying the situation is “out of his hands.”

The Jockey Club sold the track to property developer Redrow in 2017 as part of redevelopment plans to raise revenue, with concerns over how it can make its tracks economically sustainable.