UK Trends and Developments Contributed by: Bahar Alaeddini, David Whyte and Jessica Wilson, Harris Hagan
Tax A UK government consultation on gambling taxes has triggered a heated debate in the industry. The UK gov- ernment is proposing a consolidation of taxes, which would result in a significant tax increase for some sectors, particularly betting and online gambling. The debate has caused deep tension, not only in industry but more broadly, and has led to fears of betting shop closures in the land-based sector, the possibility of remote operators investing in other jurisdictions, and the expansion of the illegal market. At the time of writ- ing, the outcome of tax harmonisation proposals is unknown; however, on 7 November 2025, in a report on the taxation of gambling, the Treasury Committee concluded that “we are not convinced that current Treasury policy on the taxation of gambling captures the varying extent of [gambling] harms”.
Outlook Changes introduced in the wake of the White Paper during the past 12 months have increased stability in the gambling industry in Great Britain. New require- ments – in particular, financial vulnerability checks and the statutory levy – mark industry milestones and evi - dence the effect that the White Paper has had on the regulatory and licensing landscape. In the post-White Paper era, new themes are emerging – tackling the illegal market has become a clear prior- ity for the Gambling Commission (and other indus- try stakeholders) and taxation reform has become a new concern. Although fewer regulatory and licensing changes are anticipated during the next 12 months, the industry will need to keep abreast of risks associ- ated with technological advancements, be prepared for the outcome of the tax debate, and continue to raise standards in respect of both AML and safer gam- bling requirements.
547 CHAMBERS.COM
Powered by FlippingBook