UK trade association leader cautions UK government against implementing devastating tax policy
United Kingdom: A New Era for Online Gambling
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Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), has raised concerns over the government's planned single taxation regime for online gambling.
Starting on April 28, 2025, the government initiated a 12-week-long consultation (ending July 21, 2025) on an updated 'single online gambling duty'. This proposed reform seeks to revise the current remote gambling duties, as online gambling's annual generated GGY surges to an impressive £6.9bn.
In an effort to streamline taxation, the new tax regime looks to consolidate the existing tax categories of Remote Gaming Duty (RGD), General Betting Duty (GBD), and Pool Betting Duty (PBD) into a single Remote Betting and Gaming Duty (RBGD).
Interestingly, a similar tax increase proposal met resistance from Chancellor Rachel Reeves during the 2024 Autumn Budget.
The Proposed Reform
- Simplification. The main objective is to cut down on administrative duties by eliminating the need for operators to comply with multiple taxes, thus aligning the tax system more closely with the burgeoning virtual gambling sector.
- Industry Collaboration. This consultation invites opinions from industry stakeholders to craft effective, well-informed reforms.
- Impact. If implemented, the single duty would simplify tax compliance for operators, possibly boosting operational efficiency. However, the final tax rate and overall effects on operators and consumers are yet to be decided.
Critics argue that the existing tax system fails to account for evolving consumer behavior in recent years. The proposed single duty aims to rectify these inconsistencies and adapt more efficiently to the constantly evolving landscape of remote gambling.
Enrichment Info:
The proposed single online gambling duty in the United Kingdom is currently under consultation. The UK government launched a consultation on April 29, 2025, which will run for 12 weeks and close on July 21, 2025. If implemented, the single duty would streamline tax compliance for operators, potentially enhancing operational efficiency.
[1] Source A: Online Gambling Operators Warn of "Unintended Consequences" as UK Prepares for Single Online Gambling Duty: https://www.sbcnews.co.uk/news/remote-gaming/online-gambling-operators-warn-of-unintended-consequences-as-uk-prepares-for-single-online-gambling-duty/
[2] Source B: UK Government Launches Consultation on Single Online Gambling Duty: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61464710.amp
[5] Source D: Single Online Gambling Duty: The Impacts and Implications for Online Operators: https://www.igamingbusiness.com/blogs/single-online-gambling-duty-the-impacts-and-implications-for-online-operators/
- Grainne Hurst, the CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), has raised issues about the government's plan for a single taxation regime for online gambling.
- The government implemented a 12-week consultation, starting on April 28, 2025, regarding an updated 'single online gambling duty'.
- This proposed reform aims to consolidate the current remote gambling duties, including Remote Gaming Duty (RGD), General Betting Duty (GBD), and Pool Betting Duty (PBD), into a single Remote Betting and Gaming Duty (RBGD).
- The proposed single duty seeks to simplify administrative duties by eliminating the need for operators to comply with multiple taxes, aligning the tax system with the growth of the virtual gambling sector.
- Stakeholders from the industry are invited to collaborate during this consultation to help create informed and effective reforms.
- The implementation of the single duty might lead to improved tax compliance for operators, although the final tax rate and overall impact on operators and consumers are yet to be determined.
- Critics have pointed out the inconsistencies between the existing tax system and evolving consumer behavior in recent years, and the proposed single duty aims to rectify these issues.
- The reformation of online gambling's taxation structure will likely have substantial implications for the finance, wealth management, fintech, banking-and-insurance, personal-finance, policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news sectors due to the financial, regulatory, and societal impacts.
