Report: UK government considering raising gambling taxes

The UK government is reportedly considering tax rises for the gambling industry proposed by two different thinktanks.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will set out the Labour government’s fiscal plans across the country on October 30, with The Guardian reporting that the gambling industry could face changes.

The newspaper claims that Labour is considering a proposal from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), which has suggested hiking remote gaming duty to 50 per cent, up from 21 per cent.

The IPPR has also suggested doubling the 15 per cent general betting duty.

Meanwhile, the Social Market Foundation says increasing remote gaming duty from 21 per cent to 42 per cent could be one way to sustainably improve the gambling industry’s tax contribution.

Gambling tax rises have been the subject of recent industry debate in the Netherlands and Sweden, with stakeholders concerned about their impact on the illegal market.