Horserace Betting Levy Board

The Court of Appeal has today dismissed an appeal against a High Court decision in the Horserace Betting Levy Board’s favour last year which found that customers of betting exchanges, acting in that capacity, do not constitute leviable bookmakers.

Paul Lee, Chairman of the Levy Board, commented:

“The appeal judgment is a vindication of the outcome reached by the majority of the Board after an extensive consultation process. Both the High Court and now the Court of Appeal have endorsed that outcome.

“The Board took the view, following that consultation and in the light of legal advice, that it would not seek to impose levy on the customers of exchanges. It was then open to any party to challenge that decision through a Judicial Review.

“I would like again to thank our executive team and legal advisors Herbert Smith Freehills as well as Lord Pannick QC, Michael Fordham QC and Fraser Campbell. They have all been first-class throughout.”