Entain chief executive Stella David said a UK gambling tax increase could lead the company to reconsider its investment in the country and close betting shops. David said the scale of any closures would depend on the size of the increase; Entain operates about 2,300 shops and employs about 14,000 people in Great Britain.
Entain’s investment and shop decisions depend on the size of any UK gambling tax increase.
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HM Treasury has rejected blame after Betfred announced the closure of over 130 shops. The dispute follows industry claims that tax rises are responsible for the closures. Betfred operates more than 1,200 betting shops across the UK.
Evolution chief executive Martin Carlesund said higher gambling taxes risk reducing channelisation rates across Europe. He said greater attention should be paid to unprotected customers and that a Gambling Commission investigation remains ongoing, according to reports.
Reportedly, the BGC has called on the UK government to exclude further gambling tax rises from its next budget. Gambling company executives also want the government to suspend a tax increase.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has asked the UK government to rule out further increases in gambling taxation in the next budget and to suspend a planned rise in betting duty. The request was made in a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey, signed by the chief executives of Entain, Flutter UK & Ireland, bet365, Bally's Corporation, evoke and Betfred, all BGC members, according to the report.
The Betting and Gaming Council said a report by H2 Gambling Capital warns that UK tax increases could accelerate customer migration to unlicensed gambling operators. The report projects the illegal market's share of online betting will rise from 10% in 2025 to 22% by 2031, while the planned Remote Betting Duty increase from April 2027 could add pressure on licensed firms.
iGamingFuture reported that H2 Gambling Capital analysis suggested UK gambling tax increases could accelerate illegal market growth. The assessment covered both recent and planned increases.