The post Betfred Blacks Out ARC Races in Dispute Over 30% Media Rights Hike appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
Horse racing bettors will no longer be able to watch action from Arena Racing Company (ARC) events in any of Betfred’s 1,287 retail sportsbooks because the operator reportedly doesn’t want to pay ARC’s 30% price hike. ARC controls the media rights of 21 UK tracks, including Lingfield, Wolverhampton, and Southwell.
Betfred is still taking bets on races at the impacted tracks, although some concessions, like wagers with guaranteed odds, won’t be available on these races. This isn’t the first time it has had a disagreement with ARC. In January 2017, no live races were shown in Betfred stores for a few days until the two parties eventually settled on an agreement.
the price rise comes at a challenging time
ARC is reportedly dealing with similar pushback from other sportsbook operators. Significant incoming tax increases in the UK are set to put a strain on their financial situations, which means the price rise comes at a challenging time. Many are closing retail stores or considering doing so in the future as the General Betting Duty will jump to 25% from the current 15% in April 2027.
The Remote Gaming Duty is also set to almost double to 40% in April 2026, which is expected to negatively impact profits. Several operators are leaving the market as a result of the changes announced by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves in November.
The post Betfred Blacks Out ARC Races in Dispute Over 30% Media Rights Hike appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
