The UK’s Autumn Budget has dropped, confirming several changes to gambling taxes that are expected to raise £1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) for the British economy.
Those tax increases include pushing remote gaming duty from 21 to 40 per cent starting in April 2026, and the creation of a new 25 per cent general betting duty for online gambling from April 2027. Self-service gambling terminals, spread betting, pool bets, and horseracing are exempt, while bingo taxes will have the current 10 per cent rate abolished.
With dramatic changes to taxation on the way for UK gambling companies, here’s how some of the biggest players have reacted, one day on.
Flutter Entertainment: ‘A very disappointing outcome’
Flutter, the gambling giant behind major brands like FanDuel, Betfair, Sky Betting & Gaming, Paddy Power, and more, acknowledged the “very significant impact on the overall market” but remained positive in its statement, saying that its market share gains and operational efficiency “will provide substantial opportunities to help offset the impact in the medium-term”.
Nonetheless, the company’s UK and Ireland CEO, Kevin Harrington, noted that the impact on the industry as a whole will only hamper safer gambling.
“Today’s tax increases are a very disappointing outcome and will have a significant adverse impact on our industry,” said Harrington. “The Chancellor rightly wants to address harm, but these changes will hand a big win to illegal, unlicensed gambling operators who will become more competitive overnight.
“These black market operators don’t pay tax and don’t invest in safer gambling. At 40 percent, the UK’s remote gaming duty is now above countries such as the Netherlands, where a recent tax increase saw a rise in illegal gambling and a fall in Government receipts.
“Despite this impact, I am confident that through both our scale and leading position in the UK, as well as the proactive cost initiatives that we are taking, we are well placed to navigate through today’s changes.”
Casino.org: ‘This will force tough decisions’
Alexander Korsager, Chief Gaming Officer at Casino.org, raised concerns about the knock-on effects of this tax hike, specifically how it would affect those working in the gambling industry and increased costs for customers.
“While we’re happy for the gambling industry to pay its fair share, we are mindful of the challenges a 40 percent tax may pose for operators based in the UK,” Korasager said in a statement given to Readwrite. “This significant tax hike will force companies to make tough decisions, including potential staff restructuring or a shift in focus toward markets with more favorable tax rates.
“There are also concerns that some operators may be forced to pass on the increased costs to consumers. This will lead to higher fees or fewer promotions, ultimately affecting the affordability and accessibility of gambling services for the consumer.
“The industry has experienced comparable tax increases in US states like New York, which implemented a tax rate of 51%,” Korsager went on to explain. “This legislation prompted protests from staff concerned about potential job losses, and some sportsbooks are finding it difficult to comply with the new tax requirements.
“We were hopeful that the Autumn Budget announcement would strike a balance that allows the government to achieve its revenue goals while ensuring that operators can continue to offer value without compromising on service or accessibility.”
British Horseracing Authority: ‘This is an important step’
With horseracing gambling companies exempt from the increased duties, the British Horseracing Authority has welcomed the protection of a long-running British industry, while also expressing concern for other gambling sectors in the country.
“Today’s welcome outcome demonstrates that the Chancellor has listened to our concerns and rightly recognised that racing is a unique national asset – culturally, socially and economically – and we welcome this support,” said BHA Acting Chief Executive Brant Dunshea.
“Betting on racing is an integral part of the enjoyment of our sport, and maintaining the rate of horserace betting duties is an important step by the Government to help preserve revenue streams and protect the 85,000 jobs supported by the racing across the country.
“Racing has been part of the British way of life for hundreds of years,” he said. “It binds our communities together in shared experience, it brings joy to millions. It puts the country on the world stage. It is right that the Government has understood this and acted accordingly.
“At the same time, we recognise that the increase in general taxation on the betting industry may have trickle-down effects on racing. We will work with our partners in the betting industry to understand the implications of this, and how we can work together to ensure that British horseracing continues to thrive.”
Betting and Gaming Council: ‘A devastating hammer blow’
The Betting and Gaming Council is the standards body for the regulated UK betting and gaming industry, representing betting shops, casinos, and online betting operators. The organization’s CEO, Grainne Hurst, echoed concerns for both the workforce and safer gambling practices.
“Massive tax increases for online betting and gaming announced in the Budget make them among the highest in the world, and are a devastating hammer blow to tens of thousands of people working in the industry across the UK, and millions of customers who enjoy a bet,” said Hurst in a statement shared with Readwrite.
“Regulated betting and gaming is one of the UK’s few globally successful sectors, generating £6.8bn for the economy, contributing over £4bn in tax and supporting 109,000 jobs, while delivering vital funding for British sport.
“While we welcome the decision not to raise land-based duties and to scrap bingo duty, these excessive online tax increases will undermine jobs, investment and growth across the UK.
“The Government’s Budget is a massive win for the incredibly harmful, unsafe, unregulated gambling black market, which pays no tax and offers none of the protections that exist in the regulated sector. These decisions are bad for jobs, bad for customers, bad for sports – and bad for safer gambling”.
“I think a lot of people in racing don’t realise how bad this is going to be for them”. @SenseiChanning is right.
There is no ‘exemption’ for racing. Their funding will now be hit by cuts to sponsorship etc, betting shop closures & punters moving to the harmful black market 1/2 https://t.co/108Xgyd0eU
— Michael Dugher (@MichaelDugher) November 26, 2025
Reactions from the opposition: ‘It’s madness’
The Conservative Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Louie French, has criticized Reeves’ decision on gambling duties, highlighting the potential for “fuelling the unsafe black market” on X.
“Britain’s bookies support thousands of jobs across the country and, with higher taxes, jobs will be lost and funding for British sport will fall,” he said in a video posted to social media. “It’s not even about protecting problem gamblers as they claim. Labour’s plan will push people to the unsafe black market. It’s madness.”
Rachel Reeves’ gambling taxes will fuel the unsafe black market, cost jobs and reduce your winnings.
Nobody is getting lucky under this Government.
But I like the odds on this one… pic.twitter.com/9v5kom41ub
— Louie French MP (@louie_french) November 26, 2025
evoke plc: ‘Ill-thought-through, counterproductive, and highly damaging’
Evoke, the parent company behind British gambling brands like William Hill, 888casino, 888sport, 888poker, and more, has also shared a public response to the news, warning of potential job losses and increased black market activity. This comes after William Hill announced plans to close one in 10 of its high-street betting shops.
“The decision today by the UK government to substantially raise taxes is highly damaging for the economy and consumers,” said Per Widerström, CEO of Evoke. “As an industry, we have consistently warned of the significant impact on jobs, investment in the UK, and player protection that these changes would have, yet sadly the Government has chosen not to listen.
“These proposals are ill-thought-through, counterproductive, and highly damaging. It is clear these changes will significantly harm businesses, employees, and customers.
“We will begin immediately on executing our mitigation plans, which involve a significant reduction in investment into the UK, and, very regrettably, the likely need for thousands of jobs to be cut up and down the country.
“As a result of the actions now required, these tax changes will reduce the overall level of tax the regulated industry pays in the UK, and more importantly, it will have a significant negative impact on player protection as these changes will incentivise activity moving to the illegal and dangerous black-market.”
Featured image: Flickr, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
The post ‘Bad for safer gambling’: UK gambling industry reacts to Autumn Budget tax hike appeared first on ReadWrite.
