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This year’s Safer Gambling Week runs from 17-23 November 2025, bringing the whole industry together to further promote safer gambling by highlighting the tools available to help customers stay in control, while signposting help and advice to those who need it.

Organised by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), BACTA and the Bingo Association, Safer Gambling Week is now in its ninth year. The initiative will once again deliver a range of safer gambling messages both online and in land-based venues, helping to spark a nationwide conversation about betting responsibly.

Analysis of last year’s successful campaign confirmed that more than 1.5 million unique accounts used a safer gambling tool during the week, representing a 22% year-on-year increase. Deposit limits rose by 14%, with nearly half set for the first time.

Last year’s Safer Gambling Week also set new social media records, generating more than 60 million impressions across major platforms including X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling, said: “As a Government, we are fully committed to reducing harmful gambling and protecting those at risk. That is why we have introduced a statutory levy aimed at providing funding to tackle this.

“We welcome the contribution that Safer Gambling Week makes. It provides a good opportunity to highlight the tools and support that is available to people who may need it.”

Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, said: “Safer Gambling Week is an important moment for the industry to demonstrate its commitment to protecting customers and promoting responsible play.

“While progress has been made, we must continue to ensure that the tools and protections available to consumers are effective and widely promoted.

“Collaboration and evidence-based action remain central to making gambling in Great Britain fairer, safer, and crime-free.”

Louie French MP, Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “I’m backing the Safer Gambling Week campaign to tackle gambling-related harm. This important initiative brings the industry together to support safe and responsible gambling.

“Millions of people safely enjoy a flutter every month, whether it’s on the horses, football, or the lottery. But for some, gambling can cause immense harm to their lives. It’s vital that the industry quickly identifies and supports these people.

“This initiative is one of the many examples of why Britain must stop the rise of the black market. If the Government taxes people away from regulated bookies, they’ll fuel unsafe betting online.”

Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “As ever, the week sees the whole industry coming together to further promote safer gambling for the millions of people who enjoy a regular flutter.

“It’s a time to highlight all the tools available so that customers can stay in control. And to signpost help and advice to those who need it.

“Last year’s campaign was a great success with over 1.5 million unique accounts using a safer gambling tool during the week.”

Paul Swindon, Head of Governance and Compliance at the Bingo Association, said: “The Bingo Association is proud to support Safer Gambling Week.

“All our members across Great Britain are committed to promoting a safe, enjoyable, and responsible environment for all players.

“Bingo has always been about community and fun, and Safer Gambling Week is an important reminder that gambling should always remain just that – social, safe and within your means.”

Allaster Gair, Director of Communications at BACTA, said: “At the heart of Safer Gambling Week is the simple idea that everyone should feel safe while having fun. Our members take that responsibility seriously – offering support, advice and safe spaces where customers can enjoy themselves responsibly.”

The post BGC: Industry, Government and Regulator Back Safer Gambling Week 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Proposals to significantly increase the tax rate on gaming machines could have dire consequences, threatening the existence of 3,400 betting shops and putting 25,000 jobs at risk, as highlighted by industry research.

According to findings from the Betting and Gaming Council, a recent report submitted to the Treasury by a think tank suggests raising the Machine Games Duty (MGD) from 20% to 50%, which could devastate high streets across Britain. Currently, there are about 5,800 betting shops in the UK, which not only support 42,000 jobs but also contribute £140 million annually to horse racing.

This sector pays approximately £1 billion in direct taxes to the Treasury and another £60 million in business rates to local councils. Under the proposed increase from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), with each bookmaker restricted to four gaming machines, we could see the closure of 3,400 shops. This could lead to the loss of 25,000 jobs and a reduction of £84 million in essential funding for horse racing, further straining already beleaguered high streets.

This warning comes in the context of campaigns from anti-gambling organizations urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to elevate taxes on regulated betting and gaming as a means to help bridge a £30 billion shortfall in public finances.

BGC Chief Executive Grainne Hurst said: “Any increase in betting and gaming taxes on any part of the industry would hammer ordinary punters while threatening British jobs, high streets and the future of horse racing.

“The figures for Machine Games Duty speak for themselves – thousands of shop closures, tens of thousands of job losses, and an £84 million hit to horse racing. This isn’t a small tweak to the tax system – it’s an act of economic vandalism against communities, workers and Britain’s second most popular spectator sport.

“These proposals risk achieving the exact opposite of what the Treasury intends – lower tax receipts, fewer jobs and more punters turning to unsafe, unregulated black market gambling.

“Britain’s betting and gaming sector is one of the most highly regulated in the world, supporting jobs, investment and sport across the UK.

“We urge the Government to resist short-term tax raids that would cause long-term damage – to jobs, to the economy, and to the future of British sport.”

Nearly half of all UK pubs host at least one gaming machine, earning landlords around £9,000 a year on average. Any sharp increase in MGD would add further pressure on those businesses, as well as on bingo halls and casinos that also rely on gaming machines for revenue.

The wider high street would feel the impact too. Research by ESA Retail found that 89% of betting shop customers visit other local businesses during the same trip – underlining the role bookmakers play in supporting footfall and spending.

BGC members currently contribute £6.8 billion to the UK economy, pay £4 billion in taxes, and support more than 109,000 jobs – including thousands in hubs such as Manchester, Leeds, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland and Nottingham.

The IPPR has suggested that increasing gambling taxes could raise up to £3.2 billion a year by hiking MGD and Remote Gambling Duty to 50%, and doubling General Betting Duty to 30%.

However, independent analysis shows such measures would damage the regulated sector, cut jobs and tax income, and drive more consumers towards unregulated operators.

Source: bettingandgamingcouncil.com

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A further tax raid on Britain’s betting and gaming industry would devastate jobs, undermine the economy and drive billions into the hands of the gambling black market, according to independent analysis by EY.

New research, commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council, reveals plans being championed by the SMF and IPPR think tanks would risk over 40,000 jobs, channel £8.4bn in stakes to the black market, and wipe £3.1bn off the sector’s UK economic contribution, while raising a fraction of the amount claimed by the think tanks.

BGC members currently contribute £6.8 billion to the UK economy, pay £4 billion in tax and support over 109,000 jobs across the country – including thousands of high-skilled tech roles in areas like Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Sunderland and Warrington.

But new tax hikes threaten to dismantle that success, with serious consequences for workers, the Treasury and Britain’s high streets.

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, said: “It is now clear these further tax rises are a direct threat to British jobs and economic growth.

“The figures speak for themselves – tens of thousands of jobs lost, billions diverted to the black market, and a possible £3 billion hit to the economy.

“Tax raids like those proposed would mean fewer betting shops, casinos and bingo halls, fewer jobs, and a huge boost to the growing, unsafe gambling black market, while not raising anywhere near the tax claimed.”

Both the SMF and IPPR recommended increasing – and in some cases doubling – taxes on betting and gaming.

Currently, bookmakers pay tax on Gross Gambling Yield – takings minus customer winnings – at 21% for online games like bingo, 15% for sports betting and 20% for machine gaming.

Both the SMF and IPPR recommended rates of 50% for online gaming, or Remote Betting Duty, and 25% for sports betting, termed General Betting Duty.

While the IPPR’s plans would cost 40,000 jobs, channel £8.4bn in stakes to the black market, and wipe £3.1bn off the sector’s economic GVA, an analysis of the SMF proposals showed it would cost 30,200 jobs, drive £8.1bn in stakes to the black market, and cost the sector £2.5bn in lost GVA to the economy.

The IPPR had claimed these tax increases would generate £3.2 billion in revenue. However, analysis by EY indicates the actual short-term gain would be closer to just over £1 billion.

But when additional factors such as lost employment, reduced corporation tax, lower National Insurance contributions and venue closures are taken into account, EY’s modelling suggests the Treasury’s net gain could fall to under £500 million.

Industry experts warned that the short-term gain would plummet as the hikes bed in and punters abandon the regulated sector amid worse odds, fewer promotions and a reduced offer for bookmakers.

Both think tanks have also ignored the 2023 Gambling Act Review White Paper – the most comprehensive reform of UK gambling laws in a generation –which is already projected to reduce sector revenues by around £1 billion.

Their projections also assume a 31% growth rate for the sector by 2025, whereas EY calculates that growth between 2023 and 2026 will sit at just 4%.

Hurst added: “Balanced regulations and a stable tax regime guarantee a growing regulated sector. But these proposals would achieve the absolute opposite of that and undermine the very consumer protections that keep people safe by pushing customers towards the unregulated black market, where there are no safeguards, no tax receipts, no jobs, and no support for the sports we all love.

“Britain’s betting and gaming sector is a world leader – employing thousands, paying billions in tax, and investing in British sport.

“The choice is clear: back a successful, sustainable, regulated British industry – or risk losing jobs, investment and growth.”

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