A report discussed a possible increase in the UK remote gaming duty to 50%, presenting it as a proposal under consideration rather than an adopted policy. It also reported evoke revenue of £417m for the third quarter of 2024 and Entain online net gaming revenue growth of up to 10% year on year.
The reported tax proposal could affect operators’ UK costs, while the results provide trading updates for investors.
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Rank Group and Entain shares each rose about 5% in morning trading on 21 October after reports suggested the UK Treasury was considering a smaller Machine Games Duty increase than previously feared. The reported rate was 25%; the change had not been confirmed, and the Budget was due on 28 October.
Reportedly, Betting & Gaming Council members have asked UK Chancellor John Healey to reject a proposed increase in Machine Games Duty on category B machines from 20% to 40%. The Treasury is considering the MGD change for the autumn budget, while the letter also seeks a further delay to the General Betting Duty rise from 15% to 25%, scheduled for April 2027.
Flutter expects to gain UK market share as higher gaming tax pressures smaller operators. Richard Clarke, managing director at Paddy Power and Betfair, said Flutter expects a £500m impact from next year. He warned that faster growth in unlicensed gambling would undermine gains for regulated operators.
Flutter expects to gain UK market share as the remote gaming tax pressures smaller operators, Richard Clarke, managing director at Flutter-owned brands Paddy Power and Betfair, said at the SBC Summit in Lisbon. Clarke said Flutter expects a £500m impact from next year, adding that the effect has already begun to appear this year and is being managed. He declined to set out the company's response in detail, saying plans would not be shared and that four areas for optimisation would be allowed to play out over the coming months.
More in Common UK presented survey findings at the 2026 Labour Party Conference showing that 25% of respondents trusted the gambling sector. The poll also found that 65% wanted more regulation and 63% said more betting shops would signal a decline in their community.
Betfred founder Fred Done said a proposed increase in UK Machine Gaming Duty from 20% to 40% could force the company to close 495 shops within a year. He said this could put 2,575 jobs at risk and cost the Exchequer about £67 million in tax revenue; the proposal was reportedly under consideration ahead of the Autumn Budget.