Six major betting firms have urged Chancellor John Healey to reconsider planned increases in gambling taxes, warning that such measures could lead to widespread shop closures and significant job losses across the United Kingdom. The companies, including Entain (which operates Ladbrokes and Coral), Flutter, Bet365, Bally’s Corporation, Evoke, and Betfred, have cautioned that harsher tax rates may deepen the challenges faced by the betting industry, particularly in northern England.
In a letter to the Chancellor ahead of the upcoming Budget, the group highlighted that since April 2025, when the Remote Gaming Duty doubled from 21% to 40%, the sector has already seen the closure of 630 stores and the loss of over 10,000 jobs. They argue that further increases to Machine Games Duty—from the current 20% to 40%—could force an additional 1,470 betting shops to shut their doors, with impacts especially pronounced in regions such as Makerfield, the constituency represented by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, where up to half of the local venues might close.
The firms stressed the social value of these establishments, noting that betting shops often provide flexible and accessible employment options, particularly for women, part-time workers, and young people entering the workforce. Entain reported that half of its retail staff are women, 52% work part-time or flexible hours, and over 20% are under the age of 25. The letter underscored the importance of these roles as either first jobs or opportunities for individuals seeking to re-enter the labor market.
Beyond employment concerns, the companies warned that raising gambling taxes could harm sports heavily reliant on industry funding, such as horse racing—which, according to one estimate cited, might face a shortfall of £40 million to £92 million—and greyhound racing. The firms also expressed worry that higher taxes may drive customers towards unregulated black market betting platforms that do not contribute to public revenues or player protections.
Advocates against the tax hike, including those affiliated with the gambling industry and some political groups, argue that increasing levies risks destabilizing high streets and eroding community economic activity. They call for a pause on the introduction of the new General Betting Duty scheduled for next year to allow for a full assessment of the cumulative effect of recent tax changes.
The Treasury responded that tax policy decisions rest with the Chancellor and did not comment further on the industry’s appeal.
Proponents of the tax increases maintain that raising gambling levies can help address social harms associated with betting and provide additional government revenues, though these views were not detailed in the companies’ correspondence. Debate continues ahead of the Budget as policymakers weigh the balance between economic, social, and fiscal considerations in the gambling sector.