Illegal Betting contributes to Racecourse Closures

Today Douglas Robinson states ‘there is very much a global concern that the role that illegal betting markets are playing in undermining the long-term sustainability of horse racing.”

As Director of the IFHA Council on Anti-Illegal Betting & Related Crime, Douglas Robinson highlights the increasing number of racecourse closures with 15 courses closed worldwide since 2021.

“This represents a 50% increase compared with the equivalent 2015/2020 period,” Douglas said “and the despatch explores how illegal betting diverts wagering away from regulated operators.”

“Drawing on examples from the US, Singapore, Macau, Greece, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand the despatch explores how illegal betting diverts wagering activity.”

“It draws from regulated operators, reducing the levy, taxation, media rights and product fee revenues that are essential for prizemoney, integrity programmes and racecourse infrastructure.”

In the US Arlington Park closed in 2021, Arizona Downs and Sun Down both in 2023, and in 2014 it was Golden Gate Fields, Freehold Raceway, Northville Downs and Markopoulo Park in Greece.

In Asia, Macau also closed in 2024 along with the Singapore, Hastings in Canada, Pleasanton in USA in 2025, while in 2026 its Chelmsford City in UK and Aqueduct Racetrack in United States.

Illegal betting is not only a threat to betting regulation and consumer protection, but to racing itself, with effective channelisation, stronger enforcement, balanced regulation and international cooperation being essential that revenues continue to support the racing ecosystem.

The contraction took place mostly in 2024 and 2025, when ten of the 15 closures occurred, with US handle falling for three consecutive years to 2024, alongside reduced race days, races, starts.

In the US, two-thirds of closures depend on wagering, attendance, sponsorship and casino-linked income, leaving venues exposed when one or more of these supplementary revenues declined.

The closure of Freehold Raceway followed declining attendance and revenue, and failure to secure a casino licence has led to racecourse land being marked for redevelopment, and the same as the Aqueduct site after racing was transferred to Belmont Park.

Today 14 racecourses are under pressure not to close by 2030 including Kempton Park in UK, Thurles in Ireland, Rosehill Gardens in Australia, Awapuni in New Zealand and Gwacheon in Korea.

And in the US they are Hawthorne Race Course, Emerald Downs, Gulfstream Park, Fair Grounds, Monmouth Park, Ferndale Race Track, Fresno Fairgrounds, Ruidoso Downs and Turf Paradise.

In Australia and New Zealand racecourses face threats from illegal betting, with Illegal online betting doubled from 2019 to A$3.9 billion in 2024, and 14% of wagers with unregulated operators.

The loss to racing was estimated at up to A$135 million annually through foregone product fees and regulated revenue, reducing the funds available for prize money, clubs and infrastructure.

The financial base narrows, and with operators becoming less able to resist consolidation or redevelopment of valuable urban sites, thus the proposal of Rosehill Gardens for housing.

New Zealanders were estimated to wager NZ$180–200 million annually with offshore providers, before legislation in 2025 made it the sole legal provider of online sports and racing betting.

However, on the bright side of late there has been market growth in the US, enhanced by financial checks in Britain and continued offshore betting growth on Australian and NZ racing.

And with ‘further leakage unless regulation and enforcement improve channelisation, there is a migration towards fewer, stronger venues, while marginal tracks remain exposed to consolidation.’