• Greyhound racing regulator, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), launches campaign to introduce a statutory levy on bookmakers to contribute to long-term greyhound welfare
• Funding from bookmakers through voluntary levy contributions, between 2008/09 and 2024/5 have decreased by 67 per cent in real terms
• Keep Welfare On Track campaign calls for all betting companies to pay a minimum percentage of turnover from greyhound racing towards greyhound welfare –replacing a voluntary levy that sees bookies pay 0.6 per cent if they opt into the scheme
• Public urged to email their MP now via keepwelfareontrack.co.uk to support the campaign, ahead of a petition launching to force a debate on the issue in Parliament

A campaign has been launched to force the UK betting industry to better protect the welfare of racing greyhounds through the introduction of a compulsory statutory levy.

The campaign – Keep Welfare On Track – has been initiated by the regulator for licensed greyhound racing in the UK, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), and will see a public petition launched in an effort to force a debate on the issue in Parliament.

The regulator argues that the current voluntary levy, which sees bookmakers able to opt into a payment of 0.6 per cent of their greyhound racing turnover, is inadequate to uphold existing high welfare standards in the long-term.

To highlight this point, the British Greyhound Racing Fund, which receives the voluntary levy contributions, states that it is only set to receive an estimated £6.7 million in the year to March 2025 – £5 million of which will go towards funding greyhound welfare and integrity according to GBGB.

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. This is despite the introduction of key welfare programmes by the sport’s regulator to optimise greyhound wellbeing both on and off the track. The call for a statutory levy comes as bookmakers had a turnover of £800 million on licensed greyhound racing in 2022/23, according to the British Greyhound Racing Fund.

Mark Bird, Chief Executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, said: “As long as the current levy remains voluntary and non-negotiable, with some bookies failing to play their part, the strides that we as an industry have made to uphold the highest standards of welfare for racing greyhounds will remain under threat.

“Our Keep Welfare On Track campaign seeks to provide a more equitable approach which ensures that all betting companies pay into the levy, at an appropriate rate to ensure sustainable and long-term funding to protect these wonderful animals for years to come.

“We strongly urge anyone who cares about greyhounds, and the greyhound racing industry, to sign this petition so we can present this vital campaign directly to Government and force them to take action.”

Under the GBGB proposals, the new compulsory levy would see financial contributions from betting companies rise from 0.6 per cent of revenue to resemble other best-practice schemes, as seen in British horse racing. As part of any new levy system, a final contribution figure would be negotiated between the bookmakers and the sport.

It would also 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.

To find out more about the Keep Welfare On Track campaign, and to email your MP and sign the petition and force a debate in parliament, visit keepwelfareontrack.co.uk

Notes to editors:

Key facts

• The amounts paid by bookmakers has decreased significantly over the period of guardianship of the GBGB, with levy contributions falling by 67 per cent based on CPI rates.
• The British Greyhound Racing Fund states that for the year to March 2025 the voluntary levy is set to raise an estimated £6.7 million, with £5 million allocated to welfare and integrity according to GBGB
• The remaining money from the levy goes towards supporting other areas of the industry, including improving the tracks themselves, and prize money which is often reinvested by owners back into the industry
• The current voluntary levy is set at 0.6 per cent of all greyhound racing revenue, and contributed approximately £6.9 million to the British Greyhound Racing Fund in 2023/24, and £7.3 million in 2022/23
• Out of the total number of bookmakers involved with licensed greyhound racing, 95 per cent are currently paying the voluntary levy (based on LBO numbers alone). About £500,000 remains uncollected from bookmakers not paying into the sport
• There are approximately 12,000 greyhounds involved in greyhound racing in the UK*
• Greyhound racing employs 5,400 people and contributes £164 million to the UK economy*
• GBGB has 20 licensed tracks across the UK

*Data taken from The Economic Impact of Greyhound Racing in the UK – a report for GBGB prepared by Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates Ltd.

About Greyhound Board of Great Britain

Greyhound Board of Great Britain was established in 2009 and is the regulator for licensed greyhound racing in Great Britain.

GBGB’s role is to safeguard the integrity and future prosperity of British greyhound racing.

It oversees 20 stadia across the country and is responsible for regulating the welfare and care of all racing greyhounds – from registration to retirement.