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BGC Urges UK Chancellor to Drop the Proposed New Gambling Tax Simplification Measure
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has urged the UK Chancellor against using a proposed new gambling tax simplification measure to further raise taxes which will threaten sports including horse racing.
In the Autumn Statement, the Government confirmed it will consult on new proposals to bring remote betting into a single tax, replacing the current three-tax structure.
General betting duty and pool betting duty are set at 15% of operator profits, but remote gaming duty, levied on games of chance such as online casino, is set at 21%.
Any hike in betting duty would likely lead to lower margins on racing, fewer offers for punters and less funding to sponsor and promote the sport.
The tax threat comes as revenues are already being stretched by so-called affordability checks on customers, plans to replace the current voluntary levy with a new statutory levy to fund Research, Education and Treatment to tackle gambling related harm and spiraling costs for betting operators to support horse racing.
Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “Any further new tax rises could be a hammer blow for horse racing’s finances, which are already threatened thanks to measures proposed by the Government in the recent white paper.
“This is a sport which relies heavily on betting operators for its success and yet the Government appears determined to draft in measures which shrink the industry with huge ramifications for other sectors, like horse racing.
“What’s worse, the Treasury didn’t bother to consult or even inform DCMS, which is the department responsible for betting and racing. It seems they are high on tax but low on joined up government.
“There are genuine fears that any so-called simplification of the current tax structure will be nothing more than a Trojan Horse to further raise taxes on businesses.
“This has the potential to risk jobs and investment, and undermine the competitiveness of British horse racing on the global stage, placing its rich history and heritage in peril.
“We were promised an Autumn Statement that would deliver growth – the only thing growing is the list of worries for the betting and horse racing industries”.
The proposed new tax simplification plan comes soon after the Government’s White Paper, published in April, which included measures that will cost online operators in excess of £895m in Gross Gambling Yield.
And comes as bookmakers are preparing to make a record contribution to horse racing next year – with the bill for media rights forecast to increase by nearly £30m.
The Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, Entain, Flutter, bet365, 888/William Hill and Betfred, expect to see a record cost increase to broadcast races.
In 2022, BGC members paid £270.1m for the rights to live stream races for customers and show them in bookmakers.
But that cost is forecast to rise to £285.3m this year, an increase of 5.6%, with members estimating a further increase to £315.2m in 2024, a further bump of 10.5%.
The forecast costs come after the BGC announced their members directly contributed £384m to British horse racing last year in levy, media rights and sponsorship deals.
In addition, bookmakers spent £125m on marketing to promote racing and betting through advertisements and partnerships.
Horse racing is the second biggest sport in the UK, second only to football, with more than five million people attending around 1400 fixtures annually across 59 racecourses.
However, its popularity is in decline. In 2007, 17% of the population participated in horse race betting in the previous year, but that fell to 10% in 2018.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has committed to reviewing the Horseracing Levy by next year.
The Horseracing Levy, which is administered by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, goes towards improving the sport, breeding and boosting veterinary care.
Betting operators are working closely with the British Horseracing Authority and racing stakeholders on much needed reforms to the fixture list and race programme which should increase commercial returns from the levy and media rights.
Betting shops support 42,000 jobs on the UK’s hard-pressed high streets, generating £800 million a year in tax to the Treasury and another £60m in business rates to local councils.
But this contribution is under threat, the combined impacts of recent regulatory reforms and Covid lockdowns have forced the closure of over 2000 shops with the loss of 10,000 jobs since 2019.
The wider regulated betting and gaming industry contributes £7.1bn to the economy, generates £4.2bn in tax and supports 110,000 jobs.
The BGC has repeatedly warned changes to the regulated betting and gaming sector by the Government must not risk forcing customer to the unsafe gambling black market online.
A study by PWC showed the number of customers using an unlicensed betting website has grown from 210,000 to 460,000 and billions is being staked.
Each month in Great Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.
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QTech Games, the leading game aggregator across all emerging markets, has continued to maintain the momentum in its premium pipeline, as evidenced by its latest deal with BEON, an emerging force in the slots space, whose first raft of games is crash games-focussed.
Integrating a progressive portfolio from one of the most productive and innovative developers in the sector adds more muscle to QTech Games’ proprietary platform, which is leading the way across growth markets like LatAm and Africa. In a progressive production line that will span different slots genres, BEON is also committed to launching games tailored to specific partner requests, while simultaneously growing its portfolio with a new wave of titles in development.
As a result BEON is building a reputation for creating high-quality, immersive games with standout features that set them apart in any igaming domain, thanks to a smooth performance running off agile mechanics which are dedicated to gameplay precision and optimal retention. Its first five games to be released comprise Skydot, Fury Flight, Redy, Nomad and Orizon, while BEON’s unique Crash Game Generator tool allows operator partners to launch customised content inside 24 hours.
This collaboration delivers a targeted range of localized content, enabling QTech Games to continue to meet the varied preferences of players across emerging markets, while supporting both companies’ ambitions for global growth.
Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, said: “BEON’s initial rollout of eye-catching crash games is premised on clever mechanics, easily intelligible gameplay, high payouts and colourful graphics, which are breaking up an often-copycat environment. This kind of content is well-suited to LatAm and African markets, which directly tracks our ongoing expansion throughout these territories. These games are robust, scalable, and future-ready – so, we look forward to seeing what’s next. ”
Saba Chkheidze, Managing Partner at BEON, added: “Partnering with QTech Games constitutes the perfect opportunity for us to bolster our product distribution across emerging markets and deliver our fantastic crash games to more and more top-tier operators.
“It’s a collaboration which marks a step-change in BEON’s growth strategy across untapped markets like Latin America and Africa, where we hope our games will connect with many new players. Aside from crash games, our roadmap is packed with fresh concepts and slots titles that aim to combine engaging gameplay with solid technical performance, ensuring that our partners and players always have something new to look forward to.”
The post QTech Games adds more creative content from BEON appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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GR8 Tech is adding a knockout dimension to its SiGMA Central Europe presence with Behind the Gloves. On November 3–6 in Rome, booth 5028-2 visitors can take up a challenge and train like a champion with Lee McFarland, iGaming veteran and founder of the Behind The Glove initiative.
Step Into the Ring
Each day at GR8 Tech’s booth 5028-2, Lee McFarland will lead 15-minute boxing training sessions on specialized pads, giving participants a taste of the discipline, focus, and resilience that define both elite athletes and elite operators. Sessions run:
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Morning knockout slot
- 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Afternoon power rounds
With a limited capacity of 12 slots per day, pre-registration is required at this LINK. Slots are available for individuals or pairs looking to share the experience.
Champions Train Together
The collaboration between GR8 Tech and Behind the Gloves is a natural fit. Lee McFarland, a British military veteran turned iGaming consultant, created the initiative to combine boxing with corporate wellness and social responsibility, proving that strong businesses are built on strong people and stronger communities.
“At Behind The Gloves, we’ve always believed in the power of sport to connect people, energize communities, and tell authentic stories. Partnering with GR8 Tech at SiGMA Central Europe is a natural fit; they’re known as the ‘heavyweight of iGaming,’ and our activations are built around that same spirit of strength, discipline, and drive. Together, we’re creating more than just a stand experience—we’re building a moment that unites delegates through energy, fun, and purpose”, said Lee McFarland.
The activation reinforces GR8 Tech’s Platform for Champions positioning and the elite Heavyweight Club community of operators who are ready to lead, not follow. The company’s boxing-themed booth and partnership with Ready to Fight by Oleksandr Usyk embody the same champion’s mindset: resilience, high performance, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
“Champions don’t talk about performance—they live it,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech. “Bringing Behind The Gloves to our booth embodies the discipline and drive we build into our technology. If you want to compete at the highest level, you have to train like it.”
Where Business Meets the Ring
The Behind The Gloves sessions complement GR8 Tech’s showcase of the ULTIM8 Sportsbook and The Heavyweight Rulebook—a collection of Champions’ Rules gathered from iGaming’s top performers. Together, they create an immersive experience where attendees don’t just learn about championship-level technology—they feel first-hand what it takes to be a champion.
Visit GR8 Tech at booth 5028-2, SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome, November 3–6.
The post GR8 Tech Brings Behind The Gloves Boxing Experience to SiGMA Central Europe 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The blockchain gaming pioneer Fairspin has been shortlisted for “Best Crypto Casino 2025” at the SiGMA Central Europe B2C Awards.
This latest nomination follows Fairspin’s earlier victory at the AffPapa iGaming Awards 2025, where it earned the title “Crypto Casino of the Year.” Together, these honors confirm Fairspin’s reputation as a brand that delivers not just innovation but real value for every player — enjoy speed, transparency, and rewards at every step!
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