alarmed by a proposed tax, the horse racing trade cancels races on Thursday | EUROtoday

This is a particularly uncommon choice: the horse racing trade is canceling the races scheduled for Thursday, November 7 to accompany a strike and an indication in Paris by trotting and galloping organizations. The latter are protesting towards a plan to extend taxes on betting, regardless of the assurances given by the Minister Delegate in control of the funds, Laurent Saint-Martin.

The solely precedents for the cancellation of races in France date again to the world wars and extra not too long ago to the Covid interval.

The trade was alarmed final week by a authorities modification to the Social Security financing invoice (PLFSS) offering for a rise in taxation on video games and betting, notably horse racing. Laurent Saint-Martin, declared Sunday that he “don’t wish[ait] not “ that the horse racing trade be taxed and, the subsequent day, the modification was rejected by the National Assembly.

But, for the sector, the specter of elevated taxation has not been dominated out. “Although the government’s amendment aimed at increasing taxation on horse racing betting has been rejected, it is essential to maintain pressure on the government and elected officials”declare the France Galop and Société du trotteur français federations in a press release despatched to Agence France-Presse on Wednesday.

“This subject risks being presented again to the Senate or at any other time in the budget adoption process and races should not be a budgetary adjustment variable”they proceed. “It is essential to make it clear to the entire political class, through a strong mobilization on Thursday, that we will not give up because our jobs are at stake”add the organizations.

“We need (…) the equine industry”

The sector plans to arrange an indication in Paris on Thursday afternoon, between Place Denfert-Rochereau, in 14^e arrondissement, and Place Vauban, behind the Invalides. If, for safety causes, the demonstrators is not going to journey on horseback, there will likely be a couple of horses on website, notably with the Italian coach Mario Luraschi.

On Thursday, there ought to have been round 25 races at three racecourses, which is able to due to this fact be closed, one ” effort “ which the sector estimates at 3 million euros.

The modification supplied for a rise within the tax from 6.9% to 7.5% on gross gaming income from horse racing bets positioned within the bodily community (PMU, racecourses) and from 6.9% to fifteen% for bets on-line. It additionally deliberate to extend the taxation of commercials and promotional provides from operators, the gross proceeds of sure on line casino video games, on-line poker and bodily and on-line sports activities betting (from 6.6% to 7.6%). (from 10.6% to fifteen%).

“It is an amendment which makes it possible to harmonize taxation on gross gaming proceeds”to handle specifically essentially the most dynamic and essentially the most addictive, defined Wednesday Laurent Saint-Martin, questioned on the topic by the deputy (Mayenne, Les Démocrates) Géraldine Bannier, through the query session to the federal government.

Recalling that “the PMU finances the agricultural life of our country to the tune of 600 million euros per year”the minister declared: “We need these players, the equine industry, and we want to protect it. » “We gave a favorable opinion to the sub-amendment allowing taxation to be stabilized at 7% and not beyond for physical or online horse racing betting. »

For her half, Géraldine Bannier estimated that “the current ecosystem is virtuous: 75% of the stakes are returned to players, 16% is used to finance the sector, keeps the breeders’ ecosystem alive, [des] coaches, [des] owners, [des] jockeys…”