IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 18 of 1994
IRISH HORSERACING INDUSTRY ACT 1994
REVISED
Updated to 5 February 2026
Changes to legislation
as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.
This Revised Act is an administrative
consolidation of the
Irish Horseracing Industry Act 1994
. It is prepared by the
Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the
Law Reform Commission
Act 1975
(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and
consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the
Credit Review Act 2026
(1/2026), enacted 3 February 2026, and all statutory instruments up to and
including the
Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2026
(S.I. No. 31 of 2026), made 3 February 2026, were considered in the preparation of
this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,
the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,
undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature
of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from
any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email
to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
18
of
1994
IRISH HORSERACING INDUSTRY
ACT 1994
REVISED
Updated to 5 February 2026
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I
Preliminary and General
Section
1.
Short title.
2.
Interpretation.
3.
Establishment day.
4.
Repeals.
5.
Prosecution of summary offences.
6.
Offences and penalties.
7.
Laying of orders and regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.
8.
Expenses of Minister.
PART II
The Irish Horseracing Authority
9.
Establishment of Authority.
10.
General functions of Authority.
10A.
Incidental, etc. powers of
Authority.
(Repealed)
11.
Conferring of additional functions on Authority.
12.
Charges by Authority.
13.
Membership of either House of Oireachtas or of European Parliament by members or staff
of Authority.
14.
Disclosure by members of Authority of interests.
15.
Disclosure by directors of subsidiaries of interests.
16.
Disclosure by members of staff of certain interests.
17.
Prohibition on unauthorised disclosure of information.
18.
Committees.
19.
Race-fixtures committee.
20.
Race-programme committee.
20A.
Industry services
committee.
20B.
Betting committee.
21.
Chief executive.
22.
Staff of Authority.
23.
Superannuation of staff of Authority.
24.
Premises of Authority.
25.
Application of funds of Authority.
26.
Prize money.
27.
Advances by Minister to Authority.
28.
Accounts and audits of Authority.
29.
Reports to Minister by Authority.
29A.
Compliance by HRI with State
Bodies Code of Practice, etc.
30.
Borrowing by Authority.
31.
Gifts.
32.
Investments, joint ventures, etc.
33.
Starting price.
34.
Authority or company of Authority may hold and operate totalisator licence.
35.
Company of Authority may hold and operate bookmakers licence.
36.
Establishment of companies by Authority.
37.
Authority may acquire, etc., shares in, and become member of, company.
38.
Authority may establish, etc., racecourses.
38A.
Thoroughbred foal
levy.
PART III
The Racing Regulatory Body
39.
Racing Regulatory Body.
39A.
Accounts, etc. of Racing
Regulatory Body.
40.
Charges by Racing Regulatory Body.
41.
Funds of Racing Regulatory Body.
42.
Costs of integrity services.
43.
Collection of fees and charges
on behalf of Authority.
(Repealed)
44.
Alteration of Rules of Racing.
45.
Appeals against sanctions of Racing Regulatory Body.
46.
Racing Regulatory Body to determine whether race-fixtures may be held.
PART IV
Bookmakers and Betting
47.
Prohibition of course-betting by bookmakers not holding permits from Authority.
48.
Course-betting permits and course-betting representative permits.
49.
Authorised officers.
50.
Requirement to produce course-betting, or course-betting representative, permit to
authorised officer.
51.
Powers of entry, inspection, etc., of authorised officers and officers of customs
and excise.
52.
Obstruction of authorised officers or officers of customs and excise.
53.
Regulations in relation to authorised bookmakers.
54.
Levies payable by authorised bookmakers on course bets.
54A.
Turnover charge payable by authorised bookmakers on course bets.
54B.
Flat rate charges payable by authorised bookmakers.
54C.
Suspension or revocation of course-betting permit if charges are not paid.
54D.
Turnover charge payable by licensed bookmakers on off course bets.
54E.
Annual charge payable in
respect of registered premises.
(Repealed)
54F.
Transfer by Authority of
portion of sums collected to Board na gCon.
55.
Regulations for payment of levies on course bets.
PART V
The Bookmakers Appeal Committee
56.
Bookmakers Appeal Committee.
57.
Appeals against decisions of Authority in relation to course-betting permits and course-betting
representative permits.
58.
Dissolution of Appeal Committee, etc.
PART VI
Authorised Racecourses
59.
Authorised Racecourses.
60.
Regulations in relation to executives of authorised race-courses.
61.
Broadcasting and filming rights.
62.
Exclusion of certain persons from racecourses.
PART VII
Amendment of Totalisator Act, 1929
63.
Amendment of Totalisator Act, 1929.
PART VIII
Amendment of Betting Act, 1931
64.
Amendment of Betting Act, 1931.
PART IX
Amendment of Licensing Acts, 1833 to 1988
65.
Licensing of sale of intoxicating liquor at race-fixtures.
66.
Restrictions of certain provisions of Licensing Acts, 1833 to 1988.
67.
Search of racecourse by member of Garda Síochána.
68.
Collective citation and commencement (Part IX).
PART X
Transfer of Assets and Liabilities of Racing Board to
Authority
69.
Dissolution of Racing Board.
(
Repealed
)
70.
Transfer of property and
liabilities of Racing Board to Authority. (
Repealed
)
71.
Preservation of certain
continuing contracts and adaptation references to Authority in certain
documents. (
Repealed
)
72.
Pending legal proceedings.
(
Repealed
)
73.
Final accounts of Racing
Board. (
Repealed
)
74.
Transfer of totalisator
licences. (
Repealed
)
75.
Transfer of staff.
(
Repealed
)
76.
Exemption from stamp duties.
(
Repealed
)
77.
Continuance of instruments and documents, etc.
SCHEDULE
The Irish Horseracing Authority
Number
18
of
1994
IRISH HORSERACING INDUSTRY ACT
1994
REVISED
Updated to 5 February 2026
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE HORSERACING INDUSTRY
AND FOR THE BETTER CONTROL OF RACECOURSES AND FOR THIS AND OTHER PURPOSES TO ESTABLISH
A BODY TO BE CALLED THE IRISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY, TO DEFINE ITS FUNCTIONS, TO MAKE
PROVISION IN RELATION TO BOOKMAKERS ENGAGED IN COURSE BETTING AND TO IMPOSE LEVIES
ON THEM IN RESPECT OF SUCH BETTING, TO ASSIGN FUNCTIONS TO THE IRISH TURF CLUB AND
THE IRISH NATIONAL HUNT STEEPLECHASE COMMITTEE IN RELATION TO HORSERACING, TO DISSOLVE
THE RACING BOARD AND TO TRANSFER ITS PROPERTIES, STAFF AND LIABILITIES TO THE IRISH
HORSERACING AUTHORITY, TO DISSOLVE THE APPEAL COMMITTEE AND TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE
TO BE CALLED THE BOOKMAKERS APPEAL COMMITTEE, TO REPEAL THE RACING BOARD AND RACECOURSES
ACTS, 1945 AND 1975, TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE
TOTALISATOR ACT, 1929
, THE
BETTING ACT, 1931
, AND THE LICENSING ACTS, 1833 TO 1988, AND TO PROVIDE FOR CONNECTED MATTERS. [10
th July
, 1994]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS
Section
1.
Short title.
2.
Interpretation.
3.
Establishment day.
4.
Repeals.
5.
Prosecution of summary offences.
6.
Offences and penalties.
7.
Laying of orders and regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.
8.
Expenses of Minister.
PART II
The Irish Horseracing Authority
9.
Establishment of Authority.
10.
General functions of Authority.
10A.
Incidental, etc. powers of
Authority.
(Repealed)
11.
Conferring of additional functions on Authority.
12.
Charges by Authority.
13.
Membership of either House of Oireachtas or of European Parliament by members or staff
of Authority.
14.
Disclosure by members of Authority of interests.
15.
Disclosure by directors of subsidiaries of interests.
16.
Disclosure by members of staff of certain interests.
17.
Prohibition on unauthorised disclosure of information.
18.
Committees.
19.
Race-fixtures committee.
20.
Race-programme committee.
20A.
Industry services
committee.
20B.
Betting committee.
21.
Chief executive.
22.
Staff of Authority.
23.
Superannuation of staff of Authority.
24.
Premises of Authority.
25.
Application of funds of Authority.
26.
Prize money.
27.
Advances by Minister to Authority.
28.
Accounts and audits of Authority.
29.
Reports to Minister by Authority.
29A.
Compliance by HRI with State
Bodies Code of Practice, etc.
30.
Borrowing by Authority.
31.
Gifts.
32.
Investments, joint ventures, etc.
33.
Starting price.
34.
Authority or company of Authority may hold and operate totalisator licence.
35.
Company of Authority may hold and operate bookmakers licence.
36.
Establishment of companies by Authority.
37.
Authority may acquire, etc., shares in, and become member of, company.
38.
Authority may establish, etc., racecourses.
38A.
Thoroughbred foal
levy.
PART III
The Racing Regulatory Body
39.
Racing Regulatory Body.
39A.
Accounts, etc. of Racing
Regulatory Body.
40.
Charges by Racing Regulatory Body.
41.
Funds of Racing Regulatory Body.
42.
Costs of integrity services.
43.
Collection of fees and charges
on behalf of Authority.
(Repealed)
44.
Alteration of Rules of Racing.
45.
Appeals against sanctions of Racing Regulatory Body.
46.
Racing Regulatory Body to determine whether race-fixtures may be held.
PART IV
Bookmakers and Betting
47.
Prohibition of course-betting by bookmakers not holding permits from Authority.
48.
Course-betting permits and course-betting representative permits.
49.
Authorised officers.
50.
Requirement to produce course-betting, or course-betting representative, permit to
authorised officer.
51.
Powers of entry, inspection, etc., of authorised officers and officers of customs
and excise.
52.
Obstruction of authorised officers or officers of customs and excise.
53.
Regulations in relation to authorised bookmakers.
54.
Levies payable by authorised bookmakers on course bets.
54A.
Turnover charge payable by authorised bookmakers on course bets.
54B.
Flat rate charges payable by authorised bookmakers.
54C.
Suspension or revocation of course-betting permit if charges are not paid.
54D.
Turnover charge payable by licensed bookmakers on off course bets.
54E.
Annual charge payable in
respect of registered premises.
(Repealed)
54F.
Transfer by Authority of
portion of sums collected to Board na gCon.
55.
Regulations for payment of levies on course bets.
PART V
The Bookmakers Appeal Committee
56.
Bookmakers Appeal Committee.
57.
Appeals against decisions of Authority in relation to course-betting permits and course-betting
representative permits.
58.
Dissolution of Appeal Committee, etc.
PART VI
Authorised Racecourses
59.
Authorised Racecourses.
60.
Regulations in relation to executives of authorised race-courses.
61.
Broadcasting and filming rights.
62.
Exclusion of certain persons from racecourses.
PART VII
Amendment of Totalisator Act, 1929
63.
Amendment of Totalisator Act, 1929.
PART VIII
Amendment of Betting Act, 1931
64.
Amendment of Betting Act, 1931.
PART IX
Amendment of Licensing Acts, 1833 to 1988
65.
Licensing of sale of intoxicating liquor at race-fixtures.
66.
Restrictions of certain provisions of Licensing Acts, 1833 to 1988.
67.
Search of racecourse by member of Garda Síochána.
68.
Collective citation and commencement (Part IX).
PART X
Transfer of Assets and Liabilities of Racing Board to
Authority
69.
Dissolution of Racing Board.
(
Repealed
)
70.
Transfer of property and
liabilities of Racing Board to Authority. (
Repealed
)
71.
Preservation of certain
continuing contracts and adaptation references to Authority in certain
documents. (
Repealed
)
72.
Pending legal proceedings.
(
Repealed
)
73.
Final accounts of Racing
Board. (
Repealed
)
74.
Transfer of totalisator
licences. (
Repealed
)
75.
Transfer of staff.
(
Repealed
)
76.
Exemption from stamp duties.
(
Repealed
)
77.
Continuance of instruments and documents, etc.
SCHEDULE
The Irish Horseracing Authority
Number
18
of
1994