Betting bosses urge Chancellor to rule out further gambling tax rises at Budget

BGC member CEOs have written to the Chancellor, John Healey, urging him to rule out further increases in gambling duties at next month’s Budget, including any rise in Machine Games Duty (MGD), and to pause the planned increase in General Betting Duty (GBD) due in April 2027 until the impact of tax rises already introduced has been fully assessed.

The letter is signed by the bosses of Entain, Flutter UK & Ireland, bet365, Bally’s Corporation, evoke and Betfred.

It warns that, since the 2025 Budget, more than 600 betting shops have closed and 10,250 jobs across online and retail have been lost or announced for redundancy, including closures at Betfred and William Hill, shops under review at Paddy Power and 300 job cuts at bet365 in Stoke-on-Trent. Gambling Commission data shows betting shop numbers in Great Britain have already fallen by around 38 per cent since 2015.

The CEOs also highlight EY analysis estimating that doubling MGD on Category B machines to 40 per cent could lead to a further 690 to 1,470 betting shop closures, 28 to 34 casino closures and 11,600 to 15,900 job losses, with a net loss to the Exchequer of up to £124 million. Horseracing alone would take a hit of at least £40 million through lost levy and media-rights payments.

BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst said:

“Our members have delivered a stark warning to the Chancellor. Further tax rises will close more businesses, cost thousands more jobs and damage British sport, while potentially leaving the Treasury worse off.

“Already, more than 600 betting shops have closed and over 10,000 jobs have been lost or announced for redundancy since the last Budget. These are real jobs, real livelihoods and businesses at the heart of communities across Britain. Further tax rises will only accelerate that decline.

“The industry is already grappling with the near doubling of Remote Gaming Duty. The Chancellor must rule out further tax rises at this Budget, including on Machine Games Duty, and pause the planned increase in General Betting Duty. You cannot tax businesses that have closed, and the Government risks destroying jobs and investment without raising a penny more for the Treasury.”