Paddy Power and Sky Bet stick to their guns to offer only SP odds for Chepstow in media rights row with Arc

PADDY POWER and Sky Bet yesterday carried out their stated intention to offer only starting-price betting on racing at Chepstow after the firms' parent company Flutter Entertainment refused to provide early prices as part of its media rights battle with the track’s owner Arena Racing Company (Arc).

The two firms published markets for punters wanting to bet on Chepstow about 15 minutes before the first race, a six-runner 5f handicap, and continued to only offer betting race-by-race through the remainder of the day.  

That action, which was flagged by Flutter on Wednesday, was taken as a “commercial decision” by the gambling giant and followed a similar move it made against the Arc-owned Bath two weeks ago.

On that occasion, Flutter said Paddy Power and Sky Bet would not offer any prices for Bath, but later provided SP-only betting after a legal letter from Arc’s solicitor.

The dispute centres on the price being paid by Flutter to Arc for media rights, with the bookmaking firm arguing costs are making horseracing unprofitable as a product.

Flutter and Arena Racing Company have been at odds over media rights payments

In taking the action, Flutter, which has also reduced its sponsorship at Arc courses, is attempting to bring the racecourse group back to the table to renegotiate its contract, which is believed to run until 2027.

This week, Ian Brown, the chief executive of Flutter's UK and Ireland division, said there were challenges with “declining revenue for this fantastic sport – and that's just for the funding flows that are clear and transparent”.

Arc did not want to comment when asked about Flutter’s actions on Wednesday or Thursday. 

Speaking after Flutter offered prices on Bath, Arc chief executive Martin Cruddace said: "We do very much value our long-standing relationship with Flutter and have always been open in acknowledging the clear symbiotic relationship between the horseracing and betting industries.”

Read this next:

'It's got to be resolved' - trainers concerned by poor prize-money as media rights row grabs attention at Chepstow  

No early prices at Chepstow on Thursday as Flutter reignites media rights war with Arc 

Flutter dramatically backs down in media rights war and offers Bath betting after threat of legal action  

Explainer: what happened at Bath and why did a media rights war erupt?  

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