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Betting and Gaming Council CEO, Grainne Hurst, said: “Massive tax increases for online betting and gaming announced in the Budget make them among the highest in the world, and are a devastating hammer blow to tens of thousands of people working in the industry across the UK, and millions of customers who enjoy a bet.

“Regulated betting and gaming is one of the UK’s few globally successful sectors, generating £6.8bn for the economy, contributing over £4bn in tax and supporting 109,000 jobs, while delivering vital funding for British sport.

“While we welcome the decision not to raise land-based duties and to scrap bingo duty – these excessive online tax increases will undermine jobs, investment and growth across the UK.

“The Government’s Budget is a massive win for the incredibly harmful, unsafe, unregulated gambling black market, which pays no tax and offers none of the protections that exist in the regulated sector.

“These decisions are bad for jobs, bad for customers, bad for sports – and bad for safer gambling.”

The post BGC Response to the Budget appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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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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