14th Oct 2026 22:00
(Alliance News) - The Betting and Gaming Council has asked Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey to delay a planned tax hike on the industry, Sky News reported on Wednesday, ahead of Healey's inaugural budget later this month.
"Betting and gaming are woven into Britain's cultural and sporting life," bosses of top UK bookmakers said in a letter obtained by Sky News.
"From a flutter on the Grand National to a trip to the bingo hall or casino, millions of adults enjoy betting and gaming as part of their leisure time," they added.
The executives cited the 109,000 jobs supported by the industry and the over GBP4 billion in tax revenue paid prior to last year's budget, delivered by Rachel Reeves.
But since then, the sector has seen the closure of more than 600 shops and the loss of 10,250 jobs, they said, arguing that this would worsen should the government raise taxes on the industry.
Signatories included Stella David, chief executive of Entain PLC; Kevin Harrington, chief executive of Flutter Entertainment PLC UK & Ireland; John Coates, joint group chief executive of bet365; Robeson Reeves, CEO of Bally's Corp; Per Widerstrom, who runs Evoke PLC; and Joanne Whittaker, Betfred's chief executive.
Betfred's founder Fred Done has threatened to close his entire betting shop estate should duties be further raised, Sky reported.
The executives have asked the Chancellor to pause the planned increase in the General Betting Duty on most remote betting activity to 25% "until the full impact of the RGD rise on jobs, investment, customers and tax receipts has been properly assessed," according to Sky News.
"The Treasury should have the opportunity to understand the consequences of one major tax increase before another takes effect," they said, adding that local areas where betting shops serve as community hubs would be particularly hard hit.
The businesses are already contending with a near-doubling of the Remote Gaming Duty to 40% from 21% this year.
"BGC-commissioned EY analysis estimates that a 40% [Machine Games Duty] rate could result in a further 690 to 1,470 betting shop closures, 28 to 34 casino closures and 11,600 to 15,900 job losses," the letter read.
"33% of casino closures and 23% of betting shop closures would be in the North of England. For a constituency like [the PM's constituency] Makerfield, half of its local venues would shut. Crucially, these factors combined would create a net loss to the exchequer of up to GBP124 million once you account for losses from other taxes."
Entain closed up 0.2% at 449.00 pence each on Wednesday in London. Evoke closed down 0.4% at 41.85 pence. Flutter fell 4.9% to USD74.26 in New York.
By Aidan Lane, Alliance News reporter
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