Report: Irish ad ban could block Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing
Government plan to halt gambling adverts between 5.30am and 9pm could end subscription-based racing channel broadcasts
The Irish government’s plan to ban daytime gambling ads on television could signal the end of Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing broadcasts in Ireland, according to a report in the Irish Independent.
The governing body of horse racing for Ireland, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), previously announced the channels may have to stop broadcasting in Ireland if the Gambing Regulation Bill passes and the ad ban comes into effect between 5.30am and 9pm.
The bill was first introduced in November 2022, to better protect consumers from gambling-related harm, and went through its first round of changes in July.
The Irish Independent report added that an apparent internal government briefing note shows that a separate Racing TV feed from the one available in the UK would cost €2m to create to comply with proposed new rules, leading to the HRI lobbying for the two channels to be exempt from the incoming suspension of ads.
However, junior minister at the Department of Justice James Browne argued in an email to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on Friday (September 8) that the government would be legally unable to exempt the two dedicated racing channels, Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing, from the ban should it go ahead.
Despite being subscription-based channels, Browne argued that allowing the two channels to show ads in spite of the ban would “discriminate” against other sports and would be legally unsustainable.
He wrote: “This [HRI] proposal clearly gives rise to a number of issues. Firstly, it breaches the principle of the gambling advertising ban. It is completely at odds with the stated will of the cross-party Oireachtas Committee on justice, and of the government.
“Secondly, such an exemption for the horseracing industry would also be anti-competitive under current legislation covering broadcasting companies, and would also discriminate against other sports. This would not be legally sustainable.”
Browne went on to emphasise that the ban is the “best thing” to protect players from gambling-related harm and has been years in the making.
He remarked: “I am very concerned about intense gambling advertising, and I do not believe the increased association of gambling and sport is healthy for our society.
“This legislation has been spoken about for many years, and I believe it is imperative that Fianna Fáil in government should deliver this bill.”
In a statement reportedly seen by the Irish Independent, the HRI has said it will continue to discuss the matter with the government in order to find a solution which allows Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing to broadcast both in Ireland the UK without the need for a second channel.
A spokesperson for HRI said: “Irish and British racing is scheduled together, and the only providers in the live daily racing broadcast market are both based in the UK where rules around gambling advertising differ to what is proposed here [Ireland].
“That means that these channels would have to specifically tailor their broadcast to comply with the proposed legislation and effectively create a second channel to do so.
“Given the relative size of the market in Ireland and the significant costs associated with doing so, both Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing have said such an eventuality would be unviable. “HRI will continue to engage with the minister and his officials on seeking a solution to the issue,” the spokesperson added.