Entain has launched a campaign opposing a potential increase in taxes on British betting shops, as reports suggest Machine Games Duty could double from 20% to 40% in the UK government’s Autumn budget at the end of October.
The company, which owns Ladbrokes and Coral and holds a 50% stake in BetMGM, said its What’s at Stake campaign will focus on the potential economic consequences of higher retail betting taxes, including the impact on employment, high streets, British racing and government tax revenue.
The move comes as betting shops have closed across the UK in recent years. Among them, Betfred announced in July that it was shutting 132 shops.
The Betting and Gaming Council has also launched its own Back Our Betting Shops campaign in response to pressures facing the retail betting sector.
A statement from Entain’s campaign reads: “Shop closures would affect far more than the businesses themselves. They would mean fewer local jobs, less activity on the high street, reduced funding for British racing and fewer places where customers can interact face-to-face with trained staff.
“Some customers may choose to bet elsewhere, including with operators outside the UK’s regulatory system.”
Entain CEO Stella David has also written to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham after his recent comments about betting shops occupying essential high street retail space that “people are crying out for”.
David has expressed concern about the prospect of further betting shop tax increases and called on the government to consider the “wider impact” on jobs, high streets, racing and tax revenues before making changes to the retail betting tax regime.
Entain is seeking a “balanced approach” that protects customers from the illegal gambling market, provides information on safer gambling practices and allows consumers to recognize “the difference between staffed betting shops and other gambling products within the tax and regulatory framework.”
The company’s campaign presents betting shops, citing their role in providing local employment and serving customers in local communities.
Any increase in retail betting taxation would follow tax changes affecting online gambling. The UK’s iGaming tax rate for casino sites increased from 21% to 40% in April this year, while the tax rate for online sports betting is scheduled to rise from 15% to 25% in 2027.