The Irish Government is “crazy” to include Racing TV in its daytime betting ads ban according to the host of AK Bets’ The Racing Room podcast, Hugh Cahill.

After passing through both houses of the Oireachtas, the Republic of Ireland’s Gambling Regulation Bill (GRB) will be signed into law by President Michael D. Higgins. As part of new regulations, there will be a gambling advertising watershed between 5.30 am and 9 pm. 

RacingTV has repeatedly reiterated that the ban would render its Irish horse racing coverage “economically unviable”.

“I work with the national broadcaster, RTE, and I can understand from a public television point of view why they want to curtail gambling advertising and why on the free-to-air national broadcaster they want to restrict what is being presented in terms of gambling,” explained Cahill.

“Why they choose to include a subscription racing channel in that bracket to me is crazy. People deliberately pay for the Racing TV channel because they are racing fans and presumably [most of them] are also punters. So why Racing TV is in the same bracket as RTE television on this is completely over my head, it doesn’t make any sense.”

This sentiment was echoed by Anthony Kaminskas, the Founder of AK Bets, who said that the decision shows “a clear lack of understanding of the industry” by politicians.

He added: “If you’re paying for Racing TV, which isn’t cheap, and you’re following horse racing to that level you’re paying for that channel because you want a bit more in-depth analysis.”

New rules will take effect in 2026

Although the GRB is set to be signed into law immediately, it is believed that the gambling advertising watershed will likely come into effect in 2026 as the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will need to establish a new licensing system.

This extends some time for RacingTV to arrange an alternative service, however, the firm has insisted that it is unable to absorb the potential costs of regionalising its content –  which it estimates to be €2m.

Previously, Junior Minister James Browne argued it would be a “very straightforward task” for Racing TV to offer a separate stream, however, Martin Stevenson – CEO of Racing TV’s parent company, Racecourse Media Group – accused Browne of failing to understand the challenges of a “small, independent broadcaster”.

In response to the GRB, Sky Sports, the broadcaster of UK horse racing, has confirmed its intentions to create a specific stream for Irish viewers that will comply with new regulations.