Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
HRI has informed this Department that there are no immediate plans to provide assistance to on course bookmakers. The Board of HRI considers matters relating to the impact of Covid-19 on the industry as a whole on an ongoing basis.
The bookmakers' representative body is in regular dialogue with HRI and the Association of Irish Racecourses regarding matters of concern.
On course bookmakers are licensed annually by HRI and enter commercial arrangements with racecourses regarding their attendance at race meetings to carry out their business. Since their attendance at race meetings has not been permitted, those commercial arrangements have ceased.