Update: Will Hill Files Appeal in Racing Levy Row Case

Aug 06, 2012
Update: Will Hill Files Appeal in Racing Levy Row Case
Bookie refuses to accept the ruling that customers of betting exchanges need not pay horserace levy It appears that even though a judicial review found that betting exchange players don't need to pay for the UK Horserace Betting Levy, the row is not over yet, judging by a new announcement by British bookie firm William Hill plc that it has lodged an appeal against the review's finding. According to the bookie, the review left "confusion on the correct interpretation of who ought rightly to be considered a bookmaker." The company also revealed its plan to argue that the distinction between different types of sportsbetting entities was not properly argued and therefore remains unclear, which is why the case needs to be appealed against. It was assessed by Chief executive Ralph Topping: “We think it is important for bookmakers, the Horserace Betting Levy Board and horseracing that we take this to the Court of Appeal. “Independently from all the arguments put before him, the judge drew his own conclusions as to the meaning of the act in question and we were never given an opportunity to address that thinking. “We don't think it is right. The only simple interpretation of his judgement: i.e. that no users of exchanges pay levy, ever, seems to go against what Parliament has said previously about both levy, taxation and licensing and could, if unchallenged, totally undermine any value in the Horserace Betting Levy. “We are certain this is fundamental to the future of the Horserace Betting Levy Board and, hence, important to British horseracing and bookmakers and, once again, we believe it requires clarification.”
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