Irish Racing Gains 3% Funding Rise As Government Holds Betting Tax

Minister Heydon confirmed the increase on Tuesday evening, linking it directly to animal welfare commitments rather than general running costs.

"I have allocated a further €2.9 million for the Horse and Greyhound Fund," he said. 

"The proposed increase in the fund will be linked to the implementation of the Indecon Review's recommendations in respect of equine and greyhound welfare and integrity. This will form part of the department's overall animal welfare package."

The rise broadly aligns with inflation and comes weeks after HRI announced a record 396 fixtures for the 2027 racing calendar. 

It falls short of HRI's own target, though: the authority's 2024-2028 strategic plan had forecast a 2027 allocation of €88 million, rising to €92.4 million in state funding by 2028, meaning the confirmed figure is €6.4 million below that internal projection.

For bookmakers, the headline news was what did not change. Ireland's turnover-based betting duty remains at 2% for 2027, a rate that has stood since it doubled from 1% in 2019.

The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) had pushed to keep the rate steady, telling the government in its pre-budget submission that 222 betting shops have closed and roughly 1,000 retail jobs have been lost since the 2019 increase. 

In May, the opposition party, the Social Democrats, called for a 150% rise in betting duty to help fund sports and culture initiatives, a proposal the government did not act on.

"I got a message to say the betting tax is not changing," said IBA chairwoman Sharon Byrne. 

"It's very important it wasn't raised because we aren't sure what level the new levy will come in at. The licensing fees for the regulator are quite expensive for our members, so with the uncertainty around the level of the new levy, a further increase in the tax would not have been welcome. Too many shops are closing as it is, and it would have been the final nail for a lot of operators."

The reprieve from duty does not remove every pressure on the high street. 

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland is due to introduce a new social impact fund levy from next year, and its rate has not yet been set.

"The rate at which that levy will be set has not been determined by the minister just yet, so we aren't sure what that rate is going to be, whether it is one, 2% or whatever," Byrne said. 

"We don't know, but it is imminent, and we believe it will be charged from very early in the new year."

Irish betting shop numbers have already fallen by 46% since 2008, from 1,385 to 643, including 47 closures in 2025 and 41 so far this year. 

BoyleSports operates one of the country's largest retail estates, and last month Paddy Power announced it would shut up to 100 shops across its UK and Ireland network, with close to half expected to fall in Ireland.

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The practical impact of the budget now hinges on the social impact levy rate the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland sets in the coming months, which the IBA expects to take effect early in 2027. 

Punters weighing up where to place a bet can compare current William Hill sign-up terms and the wider Irish market through GDC's free bets coverage while that detail is finalised.

Horse Racing Ireland's own funding outlook will also be shaped by whether the sector can close the gap between what it received and the €88 million it had been forecasting for 2027 under its strategic plan.