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Betting and Gaming Council Warn Further Tax Increases Will Hit Customers, Prevent Growth, Cost Jobs and Bolster Black Market Gambling

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STANDARDS body the Betting and Gaming Council have warned further tax rises threaten to bolster the illegal gambling black market while undermining the regulated sector’s significant economic contributions.

Ahead of the Budget, new figures compiled by leading consultants EY confirm BGC members generate £6.8bn for the economy in Gross Value Added, raise a further £4bn in tax to the Treasury, while supporting 109,000 jobs.

The regulated betting and gaming sector supports the UK’s hard-pressed high streets through bookmakers, provides a vital pillar to the leisure and tourism sector through casinos, and a growing number of high value jobs in bases like Stoke, Leeds, Sunderland, Warrington, Nottingham and Newcastle Under Lyme.

They also pour millions into sports including horseracing, rugby league, football, snooker, darts and boxing.

But tax increases, combined with the impacts of last year’s White Paper on gambling reform, and the threat of the growing unsafe, unregulated gambling black market, could undermine that continued investment while threatening growth and jobs.

According to previous Government figures, the White Paper measures, many of which the BGC called for to raise standards, will cost the sector around £1bn.

While comparable markets in Europe which have increased taxes on regulated operators, have seen an immediate rise in black market gambling, which pays zero tax, does not contribute to sport and makes no effort on player protection, leading these markets to also have higher rates of problem gambling.

A recent study commissioned by the BGC found 1.5m Brits are annually staking up to £4.3bn on the illegal, unregulated gambling black market.

Meanwhile, the current economic headwinds – which are set to continue – have also hit customer’s pockets hard, including their financial freedom to spend on hobbies like betting.

BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said: “Our sector is at a crossroads as we seek to implement the measures contained in the White Paper and deliver a new era of stability and growth so we can continue making significant economic contributions to the country.

“After so many years of uncertainty, this sector needs stability to deliver sustainable investment, not further change which threatens to undo that contribution.

“Any new taxes now, at any scale, at this critical juncture risks undermining that good work while giving a leg-up to the lurking menace of the black market, which is ready to hoover up disaffected customers sensitive to any degrading of the offer they get in the regulated sector.

“Customers have been hit hard for years, with extreme pressure on the cash they have left in their pockets, once bills and taxes are paid, to enjoy their hobbies including having a flutter. We don’t want to see the pressure on working people ramped up.

“Regulated betting and gaming remains a hugely popular pastime in this country, enjoyed safely by the overwhelming majority, while our members are a Great British export and genuine global leaders, delivering enormous economic good in city centers, on high streets and in the growing online sector. That investment positively impacts other sectors too, with BGC members pouring millions into Britain’s world leading sports.

“We want to partner with Government to see the right, proportionate regulations, and a stable tax regime, which doesn’t hit customers, doesn’t raise the attraction of illegal operators, won’t risk jobs, but instead delivers on the Government’s new growth agenda.”

The White Paper – billed as a “once in a generation” moment for reform – announced measures including an Ombudsman to improve consumer redress, new online stake limits, modest casino modernisation plans and a new levy to fund Research Prevention and Treatment (RPT) services to tackle problem gambling and gambling related harm.

BGC members voluntarily donated over £170m to this work over the last four years – supporting a mature network of independent charity providers – including £50m last year alone.

The new statutory RPT Levy is expected to raise £100m a year when introduced.

BGC members also contribute around £100m a year to the Horserace Betting Levy to improve breeding, advance veterinary science in the sport and contribute to the wider improvement of horseracing.

The new research by EY also tracked trends in the sector, confirming Gross Gambling Yield from online betting and gaming has remained steady, while marking the significant pressures facing land-based bookmakers and casinos.

The number of casinos has fallen in recent years, from 156 in 2019 to 117 now, including the loss of five high-end casinos.

There are also currently 5870 bookmakers in the UK, with 2485 closures since 2019, a 28% reduction, prompted by regulatory changes and the lingering effects of the Covid pandemic.

The BGC has previously called on Government to introduce the modest but mission critical modernisation plans needed for the land-based sector to compete and offer the experience their customers expect.

The post Betting and Gaming Council Warn Further Tax Increases Will Hit Customers, Prevent Growth, Cost Jobs and Bolster Black Market Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona

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The news that January’s ICE Barcelona will include a major new feature dedicated to global gaming’s most influential trade associations has been welcomed by organisations in Europe and abroad.

Making full use of the additional space at the Gran Via Fira de Barcelona, the first ICE Association Assembly has been created to enable trade bodies to promote their values and create new opportunities for the gaming community across every sector and geography, including both the Brussels-based European Casino Association (ECA) and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the global trade association for gaming equipment suppliers with its primary headquarters in Las Vegas.

Erwin Van Lambaart, Chair of the ECA confirmed: “Our members are already planning their week in Barcelona and they will be at this historic edition of ICE in great numbers. ICE is a pivotal event for the global gaming community and having a show floor feature which will enable us to engage directly with all sectors is a unique opportunity.

“Traditionally, our association’s involvement at ICE and its Conference program has primarily centred around networking and product development orientation—connecting with our members, regulators, suppliers, and fellow trade bodies. However, ICE 2025 marks a significant milestone. For the first time, the ECA will have the chance to fully interface with the global industry supply chain in its entirety. We are looking forward to this unique opportunity to articulate our vision for the future to a diverse and comprehensive audience, where innovation, responsibility and significant partnerships for guest and customer centricity will have centre stage.”

Daron Dorsey, CEO of AGEM added: “We represent the interests of our gaming suppliers whose well-known brands are global in reach, so to be given the opportunity to explain our agenda and engage with what is a truly international audience of association colleagues on the ICE show floor is invaluable.”

January’s editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate will occupy 120,000sqm of space compared to the 100,00sqm at ICE 2024. In a major endorsement of the opportunities offered by the relocation to Barcelona 72% of the 25 biggest exhibitors will have an increased stand presence at ICE 2025.

The post ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Blask Wins Prestigious “Startup of the Year” at 2024 Starlet Awards

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Blask, the pioneering AI-powered analytics ecosystem for iGaming, has been named “Startup of the Year” at the prestigious 2024 Starlet Awards. The company earned this recognition for developing a groundbreaking market intelligence platform that has redefined how gaming operators leverage data and market insights.

Award Recognition

The award confirms Blask’s revolutionary approach to market analytics and its significant impact on how iGaming companies access and utilise market intelligence. Powered by AI models including Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing, Blask analyses billions of data points across 2000+ active brands to provide unprecedented market insights.

The Starlet Awards recognition follows Blask’s recent SiGMA Asia Startup Pitch 2024 Award victory. “Winning these awards affirms our belief that innovation and bold ideas can reshape the iGaming landscape. The recognition underscores the impact of our cutting-edge AI technology and our relentless pursuit to transform data into actionable insights”, reflects Max Tesla, CEO and Co-founder of Blask

Blask provides operators with a strategic edge across multiple critical areas. Its real-time market analysis capabilities deliver instant access to crucial market metrics, while the high-granularity data available at one-hour intervals enables swift, informed decision-making. The sophisticated AI modelling system estimates GGR and FTD by analysing a comprehensive range of inputs, including historical data, third-party OSINT data, market performance, competitor metrics, historical brand performance, market reports, and public company disclosures.

Beyond analytics, Blask offers robust brand monitoring and competitor analysis tools, alongside strategic and tactical planning capabilities particularly valuable for market entry decisions and maximising performance during major events. The recently introduced customer profile feature harnesses AI to generate detailed, country-specific user profiles, adding another layer of strategic insight for operators.

The post Blask Wins Prestigious “Startup of the Year” at 2024 Starlet Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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CONCEPT: VERSATILITY AND EFFICIENCY IN SPACES

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The CONCEPT cabinet line has been designed to maximize space in casinos, adapting to any configuration. Its efficient design allows for different bank arrangements, making the most of the available area. This gives operators greater flexibility in organizing their gaming floor.

Additionally, the integrated LED strips in CONCEPT eliminate the need for extra signs or wedges, creating a sleek and attractive visual at all times.

The post CONCEPT: VERSATILITY AND EFFICIENCY IN SPACES appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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