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Until now, only Covid-19 and the world wars had done so: the horse races scheduled for Thursday are canceled. Announcement of the sector, to accompany the strike and the demonstration of socio-professional trotting and galloping associations. They are mobilizing against the increase in taxes on betting, provided for in one of the many amendments to the draft Social Security budget. Even if the text was rejected by the deputies, the industry fears that the subject will return to the Senate.
“It is essential to maintain pressure on the government and elected officialsstorm the France Galop and Société du trotteur français federations in a declaration sent this Wednesday, November 6. Shopping should not be a budgetary adjustment variable.they continue. The industry had already gone out of its way last week to denounce the “deadly choice” of the government to increase this tax. The amendment in question, tabled on October 28, plans to increase the tax from 6.9% to 7.5% on gross revenue from horse racing betting games placed in physical locations (PMU, racecourses) and from 6, 9% to 15% for online betting.
It is part of a series of other amendments aimed at focusing more on the highly addictive gaming sector. According to Public Health France, horse racing betting concerned 7.7% of players in 2019 – far behind drawing or scratching games (65% and 56%), sports betting (11%) but ahead of casino games (nearly 6%). It also plans to increase the taxation of advertising and promotional offers from operators, the gross proceeds of certain casino games, online poker and physical sports betting (from 6.6% to 7.6%) and online ( from 10.6% to 15%).
Fears for employment
“An increase in taxation means a drop in income for farmers, and it is a mechanical risk of a drop in activity and job losses,” had then warned the horse racing industry, which said “already in difficulty due to a reduction in horse racing betting”.
The text of the amendment, however, argues that “the French gambling market confirms its dynamism in 2023 […]. In a context where this trend is increasing, accompanied by the continued increase in the number of people treated for an addiction problem, the increase in social security contributions would improve the fairness of the taxation system. It aims for a “increased revenue for the health sector”, which would also contribute to “regulate the sector by limiting the consequences in terms of addiction”.
Asked about the subject on November 3, during the show Sunday in politics on France 3, the Minister of the Budget, Laurent Saint-Martin, assured that he “do not wish” an increase in these taxes. But the sector still intends to maintain the pressure. “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”insist the organizations in the sector.
Their demonstration is planned for Thursday at midday in Paris. The demonstrators will not travel on horseback in the capital for security reasons. But a few equines will be on site, according to the organizers, notably the Italian equestrian stuntman and trainer Mario Luraschi.
