British Horseracing Code of Conduct 2026 Update- Sponsorship Agreements with Betting Companies
In July 2024 British Horseracing published its Code of Conduct covering sponsorship agreements with betting companies at the Government’s request following the publication of its Gambling White Paper in 2023.
This was led by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the Racecourse Association (RCA).
The Code reflects the unique relationship between British Horseracing and gambling, as recognised in the White Paper. Millions of horseracing fans enjoy having a bet on the sport, whether at a local betting shop, at a racecourse or online. The current Government has also recognised this, with the Gambling Minister in July 2024 stating that “I understand the commercial value of gambling sponsorship for sport and the particularly unique relationship between horseracing and gambling.”
The Code sets out how racecourses and many horseracing participants enter sponsorship arrangements with a range of service and product providers, including properly licensed and UK Gambling Commission registered betting companies, which create an association between the betting company and the racecourse or participant(s). It also confirmed that racecourses and participants throughout Great Britain commit to following the general principles of the wider Sports Sponsorship Gambling Code when entering into sponsorship arrangements with betting companies, which are:
- Reinvestment into sport
- Maintaining sporting integrity
- Protecting children and young people
- Ensuring the promotion of betting is undertaken in a socially responsible way
Since July 2024, British Racing has implemented the Code and the principles above in a way which fits with the characteristics of our sport and its unique relationship with betting.
In 2025, British Racing published its first annual evaluation of implementation of the Code in practice, providing examples of how the sport has been ensuring that sponsorship agreements with betting companies are meeting the principles set out above.
This document provides an update for 2026 on Code compliance and application.
