The Betting and Gaming Council said Michael Dugher is leaving its chair role with immediate effect after six years with the organisation. He will become Head of UK Public Affairs Practice at Brunswick Group and continue as a freelance adviser and Nottingham Forest Football Club director.
The departure creates a leadership change at a UK gambling industry trade body during regulatory reform.
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Flutter Entertainment said up to 1,400 jobs are at risk in its UK and Ireland division, following staff briefings on 20 October 2026. The division has about 9,000 employees; the company attributed the restructuring to higher betting and gaming duties and expects related costs of $80m-$90m in Q4 2026.
The UK government could limit an increase in the ordinary Machine Games Duty rate to 25% from the current 20%, rather than the 40% previously floated, according to the Times. The measure could be included in the Budget Chancellor John Healey presents on 28 October, with no official confirmation yet. The Betting and Gaming Council had estimated a 40% rate could close about 2,900 betting shops and put more than 21,000 jobs at risk.
The UK government could limit an increase in the ordinary Machine Games Duty (MGD) rate to 25% from the current 20%, according to the Times. The five percentage point rise would be smaller than the doubling to 40% floated in recent months. The measure could be included in the Budget that Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey presents on 28 October. No official confirmation has been given.
The Betting and Gaming Council accused technology companies of failing to prevent illegal gambling advertisements from reaching British consumers, including people who have self-excluded. Its open letter calls for faster removal of unlawful content, stronger detection and information-sharing, and collaboration with regulators and law enforcement; the UK government announced plans for an Illegal Gambling Taskforce in May.
The Campaign for Fairer Gambling said illegal sports streaming is helping expand illegal gambling. Its report says 89% of illegal sports streams carried illegal-gambling advertising in 2024 and the first half of 2025, while British audiences watched 4.7 billion illegal sports streams over that period.
The UK government announced higher taxes on online gambling in its budget, with the casino rate rising from 21% to 40% next April and online sports betting increasing from 15% to 25% in April 2027. Flutter shares initially fell 14% before rebounding; Entain also recovered after an initial 3% decline, while Evoke remained down for the day.