Arena Racing Company (ARC) has ordered Ladbrokes to shut down its six racecourse properties due to its ongoing content dispute with joint-venture subsidiary The Racing Partnership (TRP).
The bookmaker has been told that retail points at Doncaster, Wolverhampton, Lingfield, Worcester, Southwell and Windsor racetracks will be shut down for an ‘indefinite period’.
ARC’s decision follows legal charges by TRP against Ladbrokes and other major UK highstreet bookmakers, over misuse of data relating to bookmakers providing ‘offtube commentary’ using TRP syndicated content without signing-up to TRP services.
TRP governance has placed its legal charges against UK bookmakers Ladbrokes, Coral, Betfred and racing content supplier SIS. ARC stated that Ladbrokes racetrack betting points would be closed from this Friday, with the company having no betting representation at Doncaster this weekend.
Speaking to the Racing Post David Williams Ladbrokes Director of Media commented on the matter; “We have recently been informed that our on-course shops would need to close as a result of the ongoing media rights discussion with TRP. They will remain closed indefinitely.”
TRP which officially represents all ARC racing content, states that only bookmakers that have signed up to its broadcast service should be allowed to publish its syndicated data. Bookmakers offering ‘offtube commentary’ are therefore in breach of its broadcast rights by undermining its services.
Source: SBC News
