The autumn budget of Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave the gambling industry in the UK a much-needed reprieve by notably excluding planned tax increases on the business. This budget, which is the first major financial plan the Labour government has released in almost 15 years, includes a large tax increase of £40 billion ($51.5 billion) with the goal of stabilizing the economy.
Chancellor Reeves emphasized the necessity of these tax increases to tackle a £22 billion ($28.3 billion) deficit inherited from the prior Conservative government. However, the omission of new taxes on gambling was a crucial point for industry leaders, who view this decision as vital for maintaining stability amid ongoing regulatory changes. The opposition, led by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, criticized these claims, accusing Labour of “fiddling the figures” and deviating from key manifesto commitments.
Gambling Taxes Remain Unchanged, But Future Reforms Loom
Despite earlier speculation regarding potential tax hikes for the gambling sector, the budget confirmed that gross gaming yield (GGY) bandings would remain frozen from April 1, 2025, through March 30, 2026. This decision spares the industry from immediate financial burdens.
Concerns had intensified over the potential for increasing remote gambling duty (RGD) from its current rate of 21% to as high as 50%, following recommendations from think tanks like the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Entain CEO Gavin Isaacs previously warned of the economic implications such an increase could impose. Industry advocates, including Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) CEO Grainne Hurst, have argued that steep tax hikes might drive customers toward unregulated markets. Hurst remarked, “Our industry is at a crossroads as we seek to implement the measures contained in the White Paper, measures that will cost our sector over £1bn ($1.3 billion).”
Additionally, the introduction of a £100 million ($128.7 million) annual levy for problem gambling research and treatment further adds to the financial strain on operators.
While this budget has provided some breathing room for the gambling sector, the government plans to revisit gambling tax reform in 2025. The current UK gambling tax structure is tiered, with a 15% duty on general betting receipts and a 21% tax rate on remote gambling. To streamline the tax framework, the government has proposed consolidating remote gambling—covering internet, telephone, TV, and radio betting—under a single tax structure.
Alun Bowden, senior vice president at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, expressed that a tax increase seems inevitable within the coming year, suggesting that the industry could absorb a modest hike, particularly in sports betting, which is taxed lower compared to the wider European market. Following the budget announcement, the BGC expressed relief, with Hurst stating: “Government has listened to the BGC and our members, got the balance right and rejected calls from anti-gambling prohibitionists seeking to threaten jobs and growth.”
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