RACECOURSE BOOKMAKERS

That this House observes that racecourse bookmakers are part of the historical and cultural fabric of horse race meetings in this country; notes that all racecourse bookmakers will lose significant amounts of money, and run the risk of going out of business, if racecourses are allowed to assume the ownership rights of racecourse betting pitches in 2012, as a consequence, perhaps unintended, of the Gambling Act 2005; notes that many bookmakers rely on the equity ownership of these racecourse pitches to provide for their pension; and calls upon the Government to review the Gambling Act 2005 and consider whether any amendments may be necessary to bring an end to the dispute between the Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers and its members, and the Racecourse Association in order to secure the livelihoods and assets purchased by those affected by this dispute.