Live racing from Ascot will return to TV screens at Betfred’s retail outlets and its online platform this weekend.
The popular bookie has started 2026 without being able to show any live action from 21 UK racecourses in its 1,287 retail outlets.
This is due to a dispute with betting shop channel The Racing Partnership (TRP).
The live audio-visual and data provider is thought to have increased its fees for this year by 30%.
TRP is a joint venture between Arena Racing Company, the owner and operator of 16 UK racecourses, and a number independent tracks.
What Is So Special About Saturday’s Racing At Ascot?
Ascot is one of those independent courses allied with TRP and was facing an awkward weekend ahead with its first card of 2026 getting underway tomorrow (January 17).
Betfred is the official bookmaker for the Berkshire course and has two betting shops on site.
The Racing Post says that for this weekend the Betfred blackout has been lifted.
It is not clear whether that also means a new agreement has been reached on media rights between all parties.
There are seven races on the card at Ascot’s BetMGM Clarence House Chase Raceday.
Four of those will be featured in ITV Racing’s free-to-air coverage, including the feature race at 3.30pm.
Are Other Betting Shops Affected?
There is a possibility that more high street betting shops could face a TV blackout of live racing coverage.
Several independent bookmakers had been given a temporary one-month extension to their 2025 licence while talks with TRP continued.
That extension expires on February 1 leaving the UK’s independents with a tough decision.
With operating profits much smaller than the big high street names and increases in gambling tax arriving in April, is providing a live viewing service to shop customers cost effective?
Betfred’s Return To Profitability
Betfred owner Fred Done has overseen some sweeping changes to get his company back into profitability.
The bookmaker recently reported a profit after tax of £128.9 million for the 78-weeks up to March 30, 2025.
It previously recorded a £71.7 million loss in the preceding 53-week period.
Bold measures including withdrawing all operations from the US, where the company had once operated in 10 states.
Done also sold Betfred Spain for around £2 million, which generated £1.6 million profit alone.
These measures have put Betfred on a much stronger footing as the UK gambling industry prepares to tackle the impending tax rises announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ autumn budget.
From April 1, Remote Gaming Duty will increase from 21% to 40%.
The budget is also imposing an increase in General Betting Duty from 15% to 25% in April next year.
