The Betting and Gaming Council has welcomed the UK government’s decision not to raise gambling taxes for both the land-based and online sectors.

Betting and Gaming Council

There was speculation ahead of Labour’s first Budget in 14 years on Wednesday that gambling taxes would be in the spotlight.

However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves did not bring the subject up in her House of Commons statement setting out Labour’s fiscal plans.

And the only mention of gaming tax in the Budget document stated that the gross gaming yield bandings for gaming duty will be frozen from April 1 next year until March 31, 2026.

“We welcome today’s Budget and its commitment to not increase gambling duties on the regulated betting and gaming sector,” said BGC CEO Grainne Hurst.

“We have been clear, any duty rises now would have hit customers, prevented growth, risked jobs and bolstered the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market.

“Government has listened to the BGC and our members, got the balance right and rejected calls from anti-gambling prohibitionists seeking to threaten jobs and growth.”

But Hurst said the BGC will monitor the impact that Employers’ National Insurance Contributions will have on its members, “particularly smaller operators like independent bookmakers and land-based leisure operators, like casinos.”