EMHF & UET welcome Irish Presidency decision to leave online gambling out of EU budget negotiating box

The European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF) and the European Trotting Union (UET) today welcomed the Irish Presidency’s decision not to include an own resource based on online gambling in the revised negotiating box for the EU’s 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, presented on 10 October.

“We welcome the Irish Presidency’s decision. Horseracing is financed by legal betting, and an additional tax would have pushed customers towards illegal operators, reducing revenue for governments and racing alike and leaving consumers with less protection.

“But this threat has not gone away completely. We will continue to urge policymakers to carry out a product-specific assessment of the effects of any extra taxation on legitimate horserace betting on Member State tax receipts, racing funding, consumer protection and financial crime.”

Dr Paull Khan, CEO, European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation

“Trotting and gallop racing depend on regulated betting. It is important our organisations keep raising awareness of the long-term implications of such a policy and the disastrous effect it could have on horserace funding..”

Dr Peter Truzla, President, European Trotting Union

It is now very unlikely that online gambling will be reinstated in this round of MFF negotiations. However, the principle still has considerable support in the European Parliament which, although it does not have the final say, remains an influential voice.