Leading bookmaker urges industry to pay compulsory levy on greyhound racing turnover to support welfare

A leading bookmaker is urging others in the betting industry to pay more money into greyhound racing to help secure the long-term welfare of the dogs.

Star Sports, owned by Ben Keith, has become the first bookmaker to back a campaign that is calling on the betting industry to pay a compulsory levy on betting turnover from greyhound racing, to safeguard the long-term health of racing dogs.

Currently, bookmakers can choose to pay 0.6 per cent of their greyhound racing betting turnover back into the industry on a voluntary basis.

The Keep Welfare On Track campaign is aiming to bring greyhound racing in line with horseracing and make paying back a percentage of takings from licensed greyhound racing bets compulsory.

A public petition has also been launched by GBGB as part of the campaign to force a debate in Parliament around introducing a statutory levy on greyhound bets.

The amounts paid by bookmakers has decreased significantly since the GBGB came into being, with levy contributions falling by 67 per cent based on CPI rates since 2008/9, while bookmakers had a turnover of £800 million on licensed greyhound racing in 2022/23.

The regulator for licensed greyhound racing in the UK, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), believes this is inadequate to uphold existing high welfare standards for racing greyhounds in the long-term.

Now, Star Sports – which operates Pelaw Greyhound Stadium in County Durham – is the first bookmaker in the industry to publicly support Keep Welfare On Track, and Mr Keith is calling on fellow bookies to follow suit and the public to sign the petition.

He said: “The sport of greyhound racing has given me everything. It’s given me a living, it’s given me friends, and it has always felt like my place.

“However, this great sport lives on handouts from our industry, rather than a compulsory levy on our turnover.

“Horseracing has been able to sustain itself through a similar levy. I think bookies should treat greyhound racing in the same way.

“Having a statutory levy in place for bets on greyhound racing will ensure the excellent welfare practices that GBGB has introduced will receive consistent funding for years to come. Without it, these practices are in danger of disappearing.

“I’m urging everybody in greyhound racing and the betting world who appreciates the history of the sport and the welfare of the dogs to get behind the Keep Welfare on Track campaign, and to sign the petition to show their support.

“If you haven’t signed this petition and enjoy greyhound racing, I would ask why. It will be an absolute game-changer.”

A statutory levy would ensure that every betting organisation supports GBGB’s comprehensive welfare strategy, ‘A Good Life For Every Greyhound’, which aims to further enhance welfare across all stages of a greyhound’s life.

This includes initiatives to assist with the costs of veterinary treatment during their racing careers, and GBGB’s new homing initiative for retired athletes – called ‘With A Greyhound’ – which connects potential pet owners with more than 100 accredited greyhound adoption centres across the UK.

Mark Bird, Chief Executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, added: “We’re delighted that Star Sports and Ben Keith have backed our campaign.

“Having a bookmaker voice its support shows that this does not have to be a battle between the regulator and the betting industry – we can work together for a positive outcome.

“Getting reliable funding for our welfare initiatives is crucial. If the levy on turnover continues to be voluntary, the strides that we have made to uphold the highest standards of welfare for racing greyhounds will remain under threat.”

To find out more about the campaign and to sign the petition, visit https://keepwelfareontrack.co.uk/