In the UK, revenue from gambling operators is increasing and taxes are being discussed

• The gambling industry in Great Britain generated £16.8 billion from consumers in the year to March, which is 7.3% higher compared to the previous year.
• The increase in revenue was driven by a 15% rise in online gambling operators.
• There is discussion about a possible increase in taxes on gambling games in the budget.

In Great Britain, the gambling industry generated £16.8 billion from consumers in the year to March, which is 7.3% higher compared to the previous year. This data was published by the Gambling Commission. The increase in revenue was mainly due to online gambling games, which brought in £7.8 billion, £900 million more than in the previous year.

Online gambling games generated £4.8 billion, while licensed lotteries accounted for £4.2 billion. These figures were reported against the background of potential tax increases on gambling games in the budget speech of the chancellor, which is scheduled for mid.

Two influential analytical centers, IPPR and SMF, recommend increasing the tax on online gambling to 50%. This is linked to the fact that online casinos have shown a 15% increase, generating £5.0 billion, which is 55% more than at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, companies engaged in gambling games are concerned about potential significant tax increases, arguing that this could lead to store closures and reduced contributions to the budget. For example, the company BetFred announced that it would close all 1,287 of its stores, should taxes on gambling games increase.

Tags: Europe/Economy