‘Bad for safer gambling’: UK gambling industry reacts to Autumn Budget tax hike
Britain’s autumn finances has come down, confirming some modifications to playing taxes which are anticipated to boost £1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) for the British economic system.
These tax will increase embrace the postponement of the distant gaming levy from 21 to 40 per cent beginning in April 2026 and the creation of a brand new basic betting levy of 25 per cent for on-line playing from April 2027. Self-service playing terminals, unfold betting, pool betting and horse racing might be exempt from the present levies, per cent.
With dramatic tax modifications on the best way for UK playing corporations, here is how a number of the largest gamers have reacted, the day after.
Flutter Leisure: ‘A really disappointing consequence’
Flutter, the gaming big behind huge manufacturers like FanDuel, Betfair, Sky Betting & Gaming, Paddy Energy, and extra, acknowledged the “very vital influence on the general market” however remained bullish in its assertion, saying its market share features and operational efficiencies “will present vital alternatives to assist compensate within the medium time period.”
Nonetheless, the corporate’s UK and Eire CEO, Kevin Harrington, famous that the influence on the business as a complete will solely hinder safer playing.
“As we speak’s tax will increase are a really disappointing consequence and may have a major adverse influence on our business,” Harrington mentioned. “The chancellor rightly desires to handle hurt, however these modifications will give an enormous win to unlawful and unlicensed playing operators who will develop into extra aggressive in a single day.
“These black market operators do not pay tax and do not put money into safer playing. At 40 per cent, the UK’s distant gaming levy is now above nations such because the Netherlands, the place a latest tax hike noticed an increase in unlawful playing and a drop in authorities income.
“No matter this influence, I’m assured that via our scale and management place within the UK, in addition to the proactive price initiatives we’re enterprise, we’re properly positioned to navigate at present’s modifications.”
On line casino.org: “It will pressure powerful choices”
Alexander Korsager, On line casino.org’s chief gaming officer, raised considerations concerning the adverse results of this tax enhance, notably how it might have an effect on these working within the playing business and the elevated prices for patrons.
“Whereas we’re comfortable for the playing business to pay its justifiable share, we’re conscious of the challenges {that a} 40 p.c tax might current for UK-based operators,” Korasager mentioned in an announcement offered to Readwrite. “This vital tax enhance will pressure corporations to make tough choices, together with doable employees restructuring or a shift in focus to markets with extra favorable tax charges.
“There are additionally considerations that some operators could also be compelled to cross on the elevated prices to shoppers, which is able to result in larger charges or fewer promotions, finally affecting the affordability and accessibility of client playing providers.
“The business has skilled comparable tax will increase in US states reminiscent of New York, which applied a 51% tax charge,” Korsager continued to elucidate. “This laws prompted protests from employees apprehensive about potential job losses and a few sportsbooks are discovering it tough to fulfill the brand new tax necessities.
“We have been hopeful that the Autumn Price range announcement would strike a stability that permits the federal government to fulfill its income targets, whereas guaranteeing operators can proceed to ship worth with out compromising service or entry.”
With horse racing playing corporations exempt from the elevated charges, the British Horse Authority has hailed the safety of a longstanding British business, whereas additionally expressing concern for different playing sectors within the nation.
“As we speak’s welcome consequence exhibits that the Chancellor has listened to our considerations and rightly acknowledges that racing is a singular nationwide asset – culturally, socially and economically – and we welcome this assist,” mentioned BHA Appearing Chief Government Brant Dunshea.
“Betting on racing is an integral a part of the enjoyment of our sport and sustaining the horse racing betting levy is a vital step by the Authorities to assist preserve income streams and shield the 85,000 jobs supported by racing throughout the nation.
Racing has been a part of the British lifestyle for lots of of years, he mentioned. “It binds our communities collectively in shared expertise, it brings pleasure to thousands and thousands. It places the nation on the world stage. It’s proper that the federal government has realized this and acted accordingly.
“On the similar time, we acknowledge that rising total taxation within the betting business could have a ripple impact on racing. We are going to work with our companions within the betting business to grasp the implications of this and the way we are able to work collectively to make sure British horse racing continues to thrive.”
Betting and Gaming Council: ‘A devastating hammer blow’
The Betting and Gaming Council is the requirements physique for the UK’s regulated betting and gaming business, representing betting retailers, casinos and on-line betting operators. The organisation’s CEO, Grainne Hurst, echoed considerations about each the workforce and safer playing practices.
“The huge will increase in betting and on-line gaming taxes introduced within the Price range make them among the many highest on this planet and are a devastating hammer blow to the tens of hundreds of people that work within the business throughout the UK and the thousands and thousands of consumers who get pleasure from a wager,” Hurst mentioned in an announcement shared with Readwrite.
“Regulated betting and gaming is likely one of the UK’s few globally profitable sectors, producing £6.8 billion for the economic system, contributing over £4 billion in taxes and supporting 109,000 jobs, whereas offering important funding for British sport.
“Whereas we welcome the choice to not increase land based mostly taxes and to take away the bingo levy, these extreme on-line tax will increase will undermine jobs, funding and progress throughout the UK.
“The Authorities’s Price range is a large victory for the extremely dangerous, unsafe, unregulated black playing market, which pays no tax and affords not one of the protections that exist within the regulated sector. These choices are dangerous for jobs, dangerous for patrons, dangerous for sport – and dangerous for safer playing.”
“I feel lots of people in racing do not realize how dangerous that is going to be for them.” @SenseiChanning he’s proper.
There aren’t any ‘exceptions’ for races. Their funding will now be hit by sponsorship cuts and many others, betting shops closing and gamers transferring to the damaging black market 1/2 https://t.co/108Xgyd0eU
— Michael Dugher (@MichaelDugher) November 26, 2025
Reactions from the opposition: “It is loopy”
The Conservative shadow minister for tradition, media and sport, Louie French, has criticized Reeves’ resolution on playing duties, highlighting the potential for “fueling the unsafe black market” in X.
“The British authorities assist hundreds of jobs throughout the nation and, with larger taxes, jobs might be misplaced and funding for British sport will fall,” he mentioned in a video posted on social media. “It isn’t even about defending drawback gamblers as they declare. Labour’s plan will push folks into the unsafe black market. It is insanity.”
Rachel Reeves Taxes on playing will gas the unsafe black market, price jobs and cut back your income.
Nobody is fortunate beneath this authorities.
However I like the chances on this one… pic.twitter.com/9v5kom41ub
— French MP Louie (@louie_french) November 26, 2025
evoke plc: ‘Sick-conceived, counter-productive and really damaging’
Evoke, the guardian firm behind British playing manufacturers reminiscent of William Hill, 888casino, 888sport, 888poker and extra, has additionally shared a public response to the information, warning of potential job losses and elevated black market exercise. It comes after William Hill introduced plans to shut one in 10 of its excessive avenue betting shops.
“As we speak’s resolution by the UK authorities to considerably enhance taxes may be very damaging for the economic system and shoppers,” mentioned Per Widerström, CEO of Evoke. “As an business, we’ve repeatedly warned of the numerous influence on jobs, UK funding and participant safety that these modifications would have, however sadly the federal government has chosen to not pay attention.
“These proposals are ill-advised, counter-productive and really damaging. It’s clear that these modifications will considerably hurt companies, staff and prospects.
“We are going to instantly begin implementing our mitigation plans, which embrace a major discount in funding within the UK and, sadly, the potential want for hundreds of jobs to be minimize up and down the nation.
“On account of the motion now required, these tax modifications will cut back the general degree of tax paid by the regulated business within the UK, and extra importantly, may have a major adverse influence on participant safety as these modifications will encourage the motion of unlawful and harmful black market exercise.
Featured picture: Flickr, licensed beneath CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
The submit ‘Dangerous for safer playing’: UK playing business reacts to Autumn Price range tax hike appeared first on ReadWrite.
