Poll results: Operators will cope without horseracing sponsorship deals
Half of respondents to this week's poll believe bookmakers will invest in other sports should potential ban come to pass
A ban on operators sponsoring horseracing events would not have a significant long-term impact on the bookmaking industry, according to half of all respondents to this week’s eGaming Review poll.
Last week it was reported the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) was considering a possible ban on all bookmaker sponsorship deals, with the governing body frustrated at the online gambling industry’s lack of contribution towards the horseracing levy.
But according to 50% of voters in this week’s poll, operators would not suffer from such a ban as they would simply divert their marketing resources into other high-profile sports.
Twelve percent of respondents took a slightly different view and said while established brands would cope, emerging brands which use racing deals to raise their profiles would be most affected.
In response to the alleged threat from the BHA, Coral’s head of PR and media Simon Clare described it as game of “Russian roulette” in which the horseracing industry would lose out.
However, 38% of voters disagreed and took the view horseracing was still an important product and a ban on sponsorship deals would be a tough pill to swallow for the bookmaking industry.