With annual stakes amounting to an astounding £2.5 billion, the UK’s live greyhound racing landscape is a dynamic industry, providing thousands of jobs and enriching local communities.
Nowadays, most bets on British greyhound racing flow through the Bookmakers Afternoon Betting Service (BAGS) meetings. This exciting platform, presented through betting shops and streamed globally by Sports Information Services Ltd (SIS), service bettors both in the UK and across the world, successfully turning greyhound racing into a favourable betting product.
Interestingly, BAGS meetings kickstart as early as 10.30am, building a new morning culture. While these meetings primarily serve to cater to gamblers across the globe, they also create substantial economic avenues, driving profits for the bookmakers and supporting the industry’s growth 11 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Every week, approximately 3,588 greyhounds are given the opportunity to demonstrate their incredible athleticism across the 46 race meetings, underlining the scale and heart-pounding excitement of these events.
Key contributors to the British Greyhound Racing Fund include industry leaders Coral, William Hill, and Ladbrokes, effectively shaping the future of dog racing. However, it’s worth noting the diverse involvement of 17% of bookmakers who choose to build alliances and contribute alternately. These major bookmakers, each owning two stadiums, along with 19 independently owned licensed tracks, offer a diverse range of locations for these exhilarating events.
Owned by a consortium of bookmakers, BAGS fulfills its responsibilities by paying direct fees to contracted tracks to maintain race meetings – these contracts then, in turn, encourage trainers to supply dogs for these meetings. BAGS provide a approximately £26 million to the 21 contracted tracks, illustrating its commitment to the flourishing racing environment, and generously contributing to the prosperity and continuous dynamism of the industry.
A Brighter Future for British Dog Racing
The landscape of British dog racing has embarked on an exciting journey marked by growth and expansion. Starting from 1st January 2018, thanks to the addition of a second media company, the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service (BAGS) intensified its weekly racing schedule. With an increase in race meetings from the previous 46 to an invigorating 74 meetings per week, the thrill of greyhound racing now reaches even wider audiences.
Broadcast partner SIS continues its steadfast coverage of 8 tracks, and now, the new partner, The Racing Partnership (TRP), steps up the game by providing coverage from an additional 12 tracks! This significant expansion is promoting diversity and offering more gripping action for racing enthusiasts.
Corresponding to this surge in race meetings, roughly 5,772 greyhounds get the chance to display their majestic speed and skills every week in 74 amazing race meetings. This is an impressive 71% increase, allowing even greater numbers of these canine athletes to partake in these adrenaline-pumping events compared to the 3,360 dogs in 2017.
21 circuits have grabbed the opportunity to enter the international stage. They have secured outstanding contracts whereby their races will be streamed online, reaching betting markets globally. Thus, the British dog racing industry has made significant strides in expanding its exciting spectacle to a worldwide audience, basking in continuous growth and optimism.
Importance of BAGS Racing to the Industry
Support for Greyhound Racing Industry: The Lord Donoghue Report highlighted the crucial role played by BAGS racing in sustaining the licensed greyhound racing industry in Great Britain. Without BAGS:
- The industry would struggle to generate adequate revenue
- Racing tracks would face significant financial challenges
- The sport’s overall visibility would decrease, negatively affecting its popularity
BAGS Racing and Betting Income: BAGS racing supports the majority of all betting income, contributing significantly to the revenue streams of racing tracks, trainers, and various greyhound racing-related businesses.
Sustainment of the Sport: BAGS racing’s contribution to the industry’s revenue enables its continued viability, allowing the sport to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.
Opportunities Arising from High Demand in BAGS Racing
While the high demand for racing dogs in BAGS racing indeed poses several potential challenges, it also brings multiple opportunities to improve the state of the greyhound racing industry:
Boost in Rehoming Initiatives: The growing number of dogs entering the industry signals a need for increased rehoming initiatives. This situation can be an impetus for stakeholders in the industry – from racing authorities to breeders and owners – to pool resources and work collectively towards creating more suitable homes for retired racing dogs.
Regulation of Breeding Practices: The trend of overbreeding to meet the demand can serve as a wake-up call for implementing stricter breeding regulations. By doing so, the industry can ensure that the process is managed sustainably, thereby optimising the number of dogs bred for racing and reducing “wastage”.
Enhancing Post-racing Welfare: The welfare of dogs post-racing has become a significant issue, and it opens doors for improvement in the industry. Considering the relentless demand, it becomes imperative for those involved in the industry to develop robust health and welfare programs for dogs that are no longer suitable for racing, thus improving their post-racing lives.
Bright Future
The influence of BAGS racing on the greyhound racing industry is undeniably significant, both in terms of sustaining the sport financially and ensuring its ongoing prominence. While the high demand for racing dogs does pose challenges, it equally presents opportunities for innovation, growth, and improvement within the industry, leading to a brighter future in which the industry’s efficiency and welfare standards are enhanced.
Voluntary Levy and Its Role in GBGB
The primary source of income for the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), the governing body of licensed greyhound racing in Britain, is the voluntary levy paid by certain bookmakers. This levy is gathered by the British Greyhound Racing Fund (BGRF), which manages these funds under the direction of GBGB.
Voluntary Levy Contributors: It’s estimated by BGRF that more than 90% of licensed bookmaker offices (LBOs) make contributions to the fund, providing financial support needed for greyhound racing operations.
The Possible Solution: A Statutory Levy
A robust welfare system is contingent on sufficient funding, and a potential long-term solution could be established in the form of a statutory levy.
Comparison with Horseracing: A look at horseracing provides an insightful comparison where a statutory levy has proven effective. In 2015, a statutory levy dedicated to horseracing raised approx £70m for bookmakers, which was subsequently used for infrastructure improvements, injury reduction, better data management, and increasing prize money.
Effect on Bookmakers: In the current model, greyhound racing is subjected to the discretion of bookmakers who may opt to contribute or withdraw support at will. This voluntary system enables bookmakers to relinquish their responsibilities should the industry decide to increase the levy, creating a distinct disadvantage for those that continue to contribute, making them less competitive against non-contributors. The introduction of a statutory levy could:
- Provide a more stable income for animal welfare activities.
- Create a balanced competition among bookmakers by establishing a unified financial contribution from all parties involved.
Table 1: Comparison between Voluntary and Statutory Levy
| Type of Levy | Stability of Income | Effect on Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Voluntary Levy | Unstable, depends on the willingness of bookmakers to contribute | Creates imbalance, as bookmakers not contributing are at an advantage |
| Statutory Levy | Stable, as it’s required by law | Promotes fairness, as all bookmakers are obligated to contribute |
This possible change from a voluntary to a statutory levy could alleviate the uncertainty caused by the voluntary contributions and offer a more sustainable financial structure for the future of the industry.
