Bet365 ends longstanding UK racing sponsorships amid tax pressure

Bet365 has confirmed it will step back from several long-standing horse racing sponsorship deals in the UK. This brings an end to partnerships that have been visible on the racing calendar for years.

The bookmaker, based in Stoke-on-Trent, will not renew its title sponsorship of Newmarket’s Craven Meeting. The company will also end its backing of the Newmarket July Festival after 2026. The Old Newton Cup and the Lancashire Oaks, which have been sponsored by Bet265 for 2+ decades, will now also have to seek new partnerships.

The operator described the decision as difficult. It said that this reflects the changing commercial environment for betting companies in the UK.

Financial pressure

Bookmakers are facing financial pressure from many directions:

• Tax changes and regulatory reforms.
• Rising costs because of compliance requirements and affordability checks.
• The cost of acquiring and retaining customers online has also increased in recent years.
• Marketing budgets are under closer scrutiny too.

High-profile sports sponsorships were once a central part of bookmaker marketing strategies. Now, though, they are increasingly being reassessed to protect margins.

Major races affected by Bet365’s withdrawal

Debate over the real reason behind the decision

Not everyone in the racing community agrees that taxation alone explains the move.

Some racing fans and industry observers have pointed out that tax on horse racing bets themselves did not change in the most recent UK budget.

Discussion on betting forums has suggested other factors may also be influencing bookmakers’ decisions. This includes tensions between racing bodies and operators over regulation and funding.

Others argue the move highlights how dependent racing sponsorship has become on betting companies.

Racing attendance rising but betting falling

This is a complicated moment for British racing.

Crowds have been recovering since the pandemic. More than five million people attended race meetings in 2025. This was the highest annual total since 2019. The Grand National and Royal Ascot still draw large audiences.

Despite this, turnover on horse racing bets has been declining in recent years. Industry figures show wagering fell by more than 4% during the first nine months of 2025 compared with the previous year.

Smaller everyday race meetings have been affected more. Average betting turnover per race has been falling sharply. Industry leaders say this is down to affordability checks, smaller race fields and changing betting habits.

For racing, the loss of bookmaker sponsorship adds another layer of financial pressure. It also raises questions about how the sport will replace a funding model that has been in place for decades.