The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) significantly predates online gambling. Although the two are tied in this day and age, the HBLB has been around since the 1960s. Originally, the levy was established-along with the HBLB-to provide a means of compensating racing for the loss of fanfare that experts anticipated after off-course betting shops started to pop up after they were legalized in 1961.

Although the fans still poured in to the live tracks, a percentage was still lost to racing houses throughout the UK. Today's HBLB applies levy funds to various schemes in order to directly support horseracing.

The HBLB is a statutory body in the UK that was established along with the Betting Levy Act of 1961. Although many aspects of the board's duties have changed, it still operates as a non-departmental public body and is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The board raises funding by collecting a levy (tax) on off-course horse betting and from various bookmakers. Some view these practices as unnecessary, but the board-with full government support-has every right to tax another entity profiting from horseracing.

Off-course betting can include bets placed with spread-betting firms, bet broking operations, and even licensed betting offices. The levy on these activities is the primary funding for the HBLB, and it is collected as a percentage of the gross profit instead of being taxed as an unchanging amount.

This ensures that off-course betting businesses do not suffer, as it's not the intention of the HBLB to tamp down the success of off-course betting; only to make up for the loss of on-course action due to cell locations. The board is among the most important contributors to racing's finances.

The Horseracing Betting Levy Board's statutory objectives are simple: collect the tax from bookies and the Tote, and apply the funds where it will help horseracing the most. By working to keep horseracing safe and competitive, everyone involved experiences more lucrative opportunities.

Among the aspects of horseracing funded by the HBLB are: the all-around improvement of horseracing; the improvement of various breeds of horses; and the advancement of veterinary science and education.

The board doesn't tie directly in with other online gambling practices through their levies or mission objectives. The two worlds collide on the gigantic world stage that is the internet. Keeping up with the times, the HBLB now offers online services, including remote betting on horseracing.

Internet users interested in the HBLB can stop in and check out various aspects of horseracing, such as the attendance enquiry. This large database facility is used to access different data, including the number of racegoers at any particular event, various bookmakers taking action on the event, and different details about the horses. Information has been stored here since 1989.

Over the years, the HBLB has been able to support horseracing by raising millions of dollars and putting the money to use where it was most needed. Horseracing today owes a lot to the HBLB and its tenacious practice.