A new campaign which is calling for a compulsory levy on bookmakers to support greyhound racing and welfare is being backed by Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain, the regulator for licensed greyhound racing, has started the campaign to bring in a statutory percentage of gambling firms’ turnover to contribute to long term greyhound welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Owlerton Stadium, located in Hillsborough, hosts regular greyhound meetings and is urging people to support the campaign and sign an online petition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew Hamilton, venue director, is calling for support to ensure “a reliable flow of funding to safeguard the welfare of greyhounds” that race there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Hamilton said: \u201cEvery signature is a step closer to securing increased funding from bookmakers, which will not only ensure greyhounds who race at our track continue to see high standards of care, but it will also provide a boost to the local economy too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ‘Keep Welfare On Track’ campaign calls for all betting companies to pay a minimum percentage of turnover from greyhound racing towards their welfare. This will replace the current levy which sees bookies pay 0.6%, only if they choose to opt in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Funding from bookmakers through the current voluntary levy has decreased by 67% between 2008 and 2025. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain argues that the current levy is inadequate to uphold existing high welfare standards in the long term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark Bird, chief executive of the board, said: \u201cAs long as the current levy remains voluntary and non-negotiable with some bookies failing to play their part, the strides that we as an industry have made to uphold the highest standards of welfare for racing greyhounds will remain under threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur Keep Welfare On Track campaign seeks to provide a more equitable approach which ensures that all betting companies pay into the levy, at an appropriate rate to ensure sustainable and long term funding to protect these wonderful animals for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n