Sources indicate the government is examining hikes in the remote gaming duty and general betting duty that could raise amounts in the region of £3 billion annually. Analysts warn such measures, including a possible increase of remote gaming duty up to 50 per cent, would hit operator margins hard and force cost cuts across marketing, content and operations.
Major bookmaking firms are already sounding the alarm. Betfred has stated that if tax rates rise to 35-40 per cent, it would likely shut all its 1,300 UK shops, putting approximately 7,500 jobs at risk. Meanwhile, Evoke, owner of William Hill, is reportedly preparing plans that could close as many as 200 shops and cut 1,500 jobs if the tax burden becomes untenable.
Beyond immediate business impacts, the potential tax rise also threatens the broader ecosystem. The land-based betting sector supports more than 46,000 jobs across around 5,900 outlets in the UK.
Closures would ripple into the horseracing and greyhound sectors, which depend on bookmaker media rights and levy contributions. Some industry estimates suggest losses to the racing industry could reach £160 million annually if tax duties were harmonised to high levels.
One of the most significant concerns is the growth of the unlicensed market. The Betting and Gaming Council warns that pushing customers away from regulated operators through high taxation may drive them to illegal platforms, which operate without consumer protections, oversight or contributions to tax and problem-gambling prevention. Government spokespeople, however, say consultations are ongoing and that it is not about increasing or decreasing tax rates at this stage.
Analysts caution that even a moderate hike would force major adjustments across the retail estate. Without sustainable margins, many shops would operate at a loss; marketing spend would fall, betting odds would be less competitive, and investment in high-street locations would diminish. In sum, what has been a fixture of Britain’s high streets could become financially untenable under the proposed regime.
As the government prepares to present its budget in November, the gambling industry faces a critical juncture. The choices made in Westminster are likely to determine not only the future of betting shops, but also the fate of thousands of jobs, community hubs and broader sport-funding mechanisms. With operators bracing for the worst and the government signalling intent to raise revenue from “sin taxes,” the high-street bookmaker could become a casualty of this policy shift.
Source: iGB / GMB
