The chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland does not expect any amendments to the controversial section of the Gambling Regulation Bill that creates a betting advertising watershed when it goes before the Irish government on Wednesday, despite a new survey estimating that 230,000 Irish punters will be driven to the black market.
The survey also predicts the overall cost to the Irish exchequer as a direct consequence of the stringent new regulations will come to around €150 million over the next five years.
The prospect of the racing industry in Ireland being dramatically impacted seems to be edging ever nearer, although HRI boss Suzanne Eade has repeated her promise of last year, pledging that Irish racing’s governing body will not allow a situation to occur whereby Irish racing would be removed from Irish television screens.
