Close Menu
    Latest Category
    • Finance
    • Tech
    • EU Law
    • Energy
    • About
    • Contact
    EUbusiness.com | EU news, business and politicsEUbusiness.com | EU news, business and politics
    Login
    • EU News
    • Focus
    • Guides
    • Press
    • Jobs
    • Events
    • Directory
    EUbusiness.com | EU news, business and politicsEUbusiness.com | EU news, business and politics
    Home » What’s the EU Policy on Horse Racing?

    What’s the EU Policy on Horse Racing?

    npsBy nps29 April 2021Updated:3 July 2024 No Comments4 Mins Read
    — Filed under: Focus SMEs
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Horse racing has a long and rich history across much of Europe. Countries like France, Italy, and Spain all have historic races that attract huge crowds each year. Still, how is this sport regulated and controlled across the EU?

    Horse racing - Image by Evgeni Tcherkasski from Pixabay

    Differing Gambling Regulations

    It is worth starting off by pointing out that the EU doesn’t have a single set of gambling regulations. While most European countries allow some form of betting, the exact laws vary from one country to another.

    Naturally, betting on horse races is allowed in the countries where this sport is traditionally most popular. This means that you won’t have any problems placing a wager on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris or the Grand Prix de Paris in the same French city.

    In Italy, gambling is generally accepted. However, and perhaps surprisingly, the thrilling Palio di Siena is one of the few events of this type where bets aren’t allowed. This shows how important it is to check the current legislation in any country where you want to place a wager.

    A good example of the laid-back approach to betting in Spain comes from the legendary San Lucar beach racing events. As well the official bookmaker’s stands, there are lots of little booths along the sand where people can place bets, with even very small stakes generally accepted.

    Remember that you can also often bet on international horse races from other countries. Just look for the overseas races on the site you use. This means that can bet on Royal Ascot races, the Kentucky Derby (click here to know more) or a race in the Middle East no matter where you are.

    The Pattern Races in Europe

    As is common in most of the planet where this sport is carried out, horse races are graded by category. In the EU, this is something that is organized by the European Pattern Committee. They designate one of three different levels to each race, showing how important it is in the horse racing world.

    This is done by looking at the official ratings for the top four horses over the last few years. Group 1 is the top rating and it covers classics as well as other events of global importance. Group 2 covers the international-level races that are less important, which Grade 3 is generally used for domestic races.

    These races can move between categories, as has been seen in some high-profile examples in recent years. However, the biggest races tend to be the classics that have always been considered among the best in the world.

    The Brexit Effect

    One area that has complicated matter slightly is Britain’s exit from the European Union. This has led to an increase in the paperwork needed for some things, and the transporting of horses between UK and the rest of Europe is one such area.

    It is recommended that professional advice is sought when transporting horses between Britain and the EU zone. However, as of yet there is no sign that this is going to affect the quality of the races held across Europe.

    A Look Ahead

    Europe’s love of betting, and horse racing in particular, should ensure that this sport remains a huge favorite for years to come. With a powerful network of top-class facilities, great horses, and lots of fans of this sport, there is no reason to believe that it will lose popularity anytime soon.

    We have seen several European countries move their betting onto a more regulated framework in recent years, with the likes of Italy and Spain now issuing licenses to online betting operators. This has made it easier for sports fans to find licensed sites that they can trust, which should help to fuel the increase in online betting.

    Add A Comment
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    nps
    • Website

    Related Content

    EU agenda - Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay

    EU Agenda: Week Ahead – 19-24 May 2025

    Euro coins and notes - Photo by Pixabay

    Eurozone Economic Calendar

    Euro - ECB-Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

    Pound rallies as sentiment improves – Euro currency news daily

    TikTok - Image by Stefan Coders from Pixabay

    TikTok ads system ‘breaking EU’s online content rules’

    Greenhouse gas - Image by Karl Egger from Pixabay

    EU economy’s greenhouse gas emissions rose 2.2 pct in Q4 2024

    Farming tractor - Photo by Jannis Knorr on Pexels

    MEPs tighten screw on Russian and Belarusian agricultural goods

    LATEST EU NEWS
    Euro - ECB-Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

    Pound rallies as sentiment improves – Euro currency news daily

    16 May 2025
    TikTok - Image by Stefan Coders from Pixabay

    TikTok ads system ‘breaking EU’s online content rules’

    15 May 2025
    Greenhouse gas - Image by Karl Egger from Pixabay

    EU economy’s greenhouse gas emissions rose 2.2 pct in Q4 2024

    15 May 2025
    Farming tractor - Photo by Jannis Knorr on Pexels

    MEPs tighten screw on Russian and Belarusian agricultural goods

    15 May 2025
    Business accounting - Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels

    New EU approach to VAT for e-commerce imports to simplify trade and compliance

    14 May 2025

    Subscribe to EUbusiness Week

    Get the latest EU news

    CONTACT INFO

    • EUbusiness Ltd 117 High Street, Chesham Buckinghamshire, HP5 1DE United Kingdom
    • +44(0)20 8058 8232
    • service@eubusiness.com

    INFORMATION

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Info

    Services

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • EU News

    SOCIAL MEDIA

    Facebook
    eubusiness.com © EUbusiness Ltd 2025

    Design and developed by : 

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Sign In or Register

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below.

    Lost password?