British horse racing is staging its first-ever modern strike today in protest against the UK Government’s proposed tax changes. The government plans to merge existing betting duties into a single rate and increase it from 15% to 21%, aligning it with the rate paid by online casinos and games. In response, the industry has cancelled all scheduled races at venues including Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Lingfield, and Kempton, with events postponed and rescheduled. Members of the industry are gathering in Westminster to campaign under the “Axe the Racing Tax” banner, emphasizing the significant economic and cultural impact of horse racing, which contributes around £4 billion annually to the national economy and supports approximately 100,000 jobs.

The British Horseracing Authority argues that the tax hike would severely damage communities reliant on the sport, which they describe as uniquely integral to British culture and society. Meanwhile, the Treasury has stated that the consultation aims to simplify betting tax treatment to reduce bureaucracy, not to raise or lower rates, and is seeking input from all stakeholders. The dispute highlights tensions between the government’s regulatory approach to online gambling and the horse racing industry’s concerns over economic sustainability and cultural heritage.