Connect with us

Latest News

BGC Wants UK Chancellor to Rethink “Stealth Casino Tax”

Published

on

bgc-wants-uk-chancellor-to-rethink-“stealth-casino-tax”
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has urged the Chancellor to rethink a stealth tax on land-based casinos.

Under measures announced by the Treasury, Gaming Duty Bands applied to U.K. casinos have been frozen again and will not rise with inflation, effectively creating a £5m annual tax increase across BGC land-based casino members.

There were hopes the freeze, first announced in March, would be abandoned, providing a much-needed boost to a sector which is struggling with rising wages and energy costs plus high inflation.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Currently casinos, a vital pillar of the tourism and hospitality sector, employ more than 10,000 people catering to over 16 million customer visits every year. They contribute £300m annually in taxes and an estimated £800m a year Gross Value Added to the economy. But some have struggled to rebound from the pandemic and the current tough economic headwinds, which has seen closures and job losses.

In 2005 there were 160 casinos in the UK – now there are 117. Four casinos have closed in recent months, including Genting owned Crockfords in Mayfair, the oldest casino in the country.

In 2019 casinos employed 13,600 people, which has dropped to less than 10,200 now, a 25% reduction.

Betting and Gaming Council CEO Michael Dugher said: “Freezing Gaming Duty Bands is a stealth tax which has the potential to slow recovery and weaken future growth.

“Removing it would have provided a welcome boost for the land-based casino sector at a crucial time.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

“Instead, the decision to maintain the status quo represents a missed opportunity for companies ready and able to generate jobs and investment across the country.

“Right now casinos, which play such a vital role in the tourism and hospitality sector, are waiting for the modest but mission critical policy changes announced in the White Paper.

“It seems short sighted to maintain this stealth tax while failing to make changes that will allow casinos to hire and grow. The BGC urges a re-think so Gaming Duty Bands can be moved with inflation at the next opportunity.”

Central Europe

Gaming in Germany Conference returns to Berlin November 11, 2025

Published

on

gaming-in-germany-conference-returns-to-berlin-november-11,-2025
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

Gaming in Europe is pleased to announce that the 2025 Gaming in Germany Conference will take place on November 11, 2025, in Berlin.

The Gaming in Germany Conference is an annual event for everyone who is professionally involved in Germany’s regulated online gambling industry. The conference will cover topics such as regulatory developments, (black) market growth, player protection, marketing, compliance, and much more.

Confirmed speakers

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Although the 2025 Gaming in Germany Conference is still some time away, we have already confirmed the following speakers:

  • Dr. Jörg Hofmann, Senior Partner, Melchers Law
  • Senior GGL representative
  • Mathias Dahms, President, DSWV
  • Dr. Dirk Quermann, President, DOCV
  • Christian Heins, Director iGaming, Tipico
  • Josh Hodgson, COO, H2 Gambling Capital

Don’t miss it. Save the date!

Willem van Oort, founder of Gaming in Germany said: “We are very happy that we have received commitments from major stakeholders in Germany’s regulated gambling market to speak at our event. As always, we aim to connect the industry with regulatory and social stakeholders, and vice versa. This year, major topics of discussion will be the true size of Germany’s regulated market, the increasing popularity of the black market, as well as the upcoming evaluation of the 2021 State Gambling Treaty. I am certain there will be plenty to discuss.”

Call for speakers

If you would like to share your insights, success story, innovation, or cautionary tale, please consider applying for a speaker slot at the 2025 Gaming in Germany Conference by sending an email to [email protected].

Your voice matters, and we can’t wait to hear from you!

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The post Gaming in Germany Conference returns to Berlin November 11, 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Industry Awards

BETBY CELEBRATES iGB LIVE SUCCESS WITH EGR B2B AWARD

Published

on

betby-celebrates-igb-live-success-with-egr-b2b-award
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

BETBY, a premium provider of innovative sportsbook solutions, has once again demonstrated its growing influence in the global betting industry following a highly successful appearance at iGB Live 2025, one of Europe’s premier iGaming gatherings.

The event, hosted in London, brought together thousands of industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from across the globe. BETBY’s team was at the heart of the action, engaging with partners, operators, and stakeholders to share the latest advancements in its AI-driven sportsbook solution, proprietary esports offering, and tailored content capabilities.

Discussions centered around BETBY’s comprehensive sportsbook ecosystem, which provides operators with the tools to deliver localized and engaging betting experiences. From AI Labs, BETBY’s advanced suite of AI tools designed to enhance operational efficiency and real-time personalization, to Betby.Games, its exclusive esports feed delivering 24/7 engagement, BETBY’s portfolio enables sportsbooks to adapt faster to evolving player demands.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Crowning the successful week, BETBY was honored for the second consecutive year with the Innovation in Sports Betting Software award at the prestigious EGR B2B Awards. This achievement reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of sportsbook technology, delivering flexible, data-driven, and market-responsive solutions for its partners.

“Our participation at iGB Live in London this year was about building meaningful connections, sharing our vision for the future of sports betting, and showing how our solution is helping operators succeed in an increasingly competitive market,” said Leonid Pertsovskiy, BETBY’s Chief Executive Officer. “Winning the EGR B2B Award for Innovation in Sports Betting Software is an incredible honor, but our focus remains on pushing boundaries and delivering real value to our partners every day.”

The EGR recognition adds to a remarkable list of industry awards collected by BETBY in the past three months, further cementing its reputation as a leading force in the betting sector. Earlier this year, at SiGMA Americas, BETBY received the award for Best Esports Product. The company’s success continued at SiGMA Asia, where it was named Best Esports Provider. Meanwhile, the MiGEA Awards turned into a showcase of BETBY’s excellence, with the company taking home Best Sportsbook Provider, Best AI Sportsbook – Innovation of the Year, and Best B2B Marketing Campaign.

To find out more about BETBY, visit: https://betby.com/

The post BETBY CELEBRATES iGB LIVE SUCCESS WITH EGR B2B AWARD appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)
Continue Reading

Latest News

BHA Initiates Campaign Against Tax Hike

Published

on

bha-initiates-campaign-against-tax-hike
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has urged the sport to collectively lobby the Government to back British racing and axe the Treasury’s proposal to hike tax on horserace betting by bringing existing online betting duties into one single rate.

The call comes ahead of the launch of “Axe the Racing Tax”, a BHA-led public campaign against the proposal which will be rolled out over the summer.

A tax hike for bookmakers in the Autumn Budget would be the third leg of a triple whammy of financial threats caused by Government policies which jeopardise the future of the sport in Britain.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Economic analysis commissioned by the BHA shows that aligning the current 15% tax rate paid by bookmakers on racing with that of online games of chance – currently taxed at 21% – by harmonising all remote gambling duties, could hit racing’s finances to the tune of £66m in lost income via the Levy, media rights and sponsorship. This is because operators are likely to seek to mitigate significant tax rises through cutting bonuses, reducing advertising and marketing budgets and increasing prices.

Should the Treasury seek to raise the proposed single duty rate further to help balance the books, the impact on racing’s finances would be devastating, with a projected £97m loss at a tax rate of 25%, a £126m loss at 30% and a £160m loss at 40%.

Brant Dunshea, Acting Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said: “It is vital that everyone working in racing, the media and bettors fully support and promote this campaign.

“The Government’s consultation on harmonising online betting duties, if followed through, poses one of the gravest risks to racing the sport has ever seen.

“It will punch a huge hole in racing’s finances, risk thousands of jobs across Britain and threaten the future of the country’s second most-popular sport and a cherished national institution.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

“From now until the Budget we will be hammering home a very simple message to MPs, Peers and the Government on behalf of millions of racing fans. It’s time for the Government to back British racing and axe the racing tax.”

The post BHA Initiates Campaign Against Tax Hike appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania