Racing: Bookmakers call for a 'level playing field'

David Harding, the chief executive of William Hill, yesterday launched a fresh attack on betting exchanges and the "unfair cost advantages" they enjoy over fixed-odds betting.

Speaking at a betting industry seminar in London, Harding criticised the leading exchange site, Betfair, which brings together punters who want to both back and lay bets.

Such sites offer margins that cannot be rivalled by bookmakers like William Hill. But Harding called for Customs and Excise to review the way in which Betfair is taxed in order to create "a level playing field".

Meanwhile, course bookmakers at Taunton, Musselburgh and Southwell yesterday continued their protest against a tax on their profits due to start on 1 April. No starting prices were returned in the first races at the tracks. "Industry" prices were also issued for the final race at Taunton.