Can greater cohesion save UK gambling from another tax raid? Maybe, says legal expert

A lawyer at one of the UK’s largest law firms specialising in gambling licensing has urged gambling trade bodies to be more cohesive in lobbying and communications amid a fresh debate around tax rates. Richard Bradley, Gambling Lead Solicitor at Poppleston Allen, has advised organisations such as the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), Bacta and the Bingo Association to “identify areas where the industry can speak collectively”. The UK’s gambling sector finds itself on the brink of further tax increases as a rise in General Betting Duty (GBD) is set to come into place in April. Remote Gaming Duty (RGD) went up from 21% to 40% in April 2026, with both measures being a staple in then-chancellor Rachel Reeves’ 2025 Autumn Budget. By the looks of it, a fresh Labour cabinet will not bring any respite for licensed bookmakers on these shores, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham already announcing his intention to reduce the amount of betting shops on the high street and Chancellor John Healey rumoured to be mulling over increasing Machine Games Duty (MGD). These potentially-inbound headwinds arrive despite the best efforts of the BGC, which has continuously decided to opt for describing betting shops as “valued community hubs” and pointing towards at times unbelievable black market figures as its best defences against another hugely damaging tax hike. While Bradley agreed that the underlying concerns are wholly valid, he said that “the wider argument can become lost” when these headline figures are constantly cited. UK trade bodies need to better their arguments “It is therefore important that the industry uses robust, accurate figures and explains what sits behind them,” he told SBC News. “The strongest argument is not necessarily that every shop is at imminent risk, but that further cost increases could make an already challenging operating environment significantly more difficult, particularly for smaller businesses.” Richard Bradley. Credit: Poppleston Allen Talks of collaboration are not exclusive to the UK. As recently as two months ago, the European Casino Association (ECA) called for an urgent expansion in the remit of Europol to take on Europe’s black market. Perhaps more pertinently, seven industry organisations in the Balkans confirmed the formation of the Balkan Gaming Federation (BGF) back in March. SBC News spoke to Milen Totev, Chairman of The Association of Organisers of Gambling Games and Activities in Bulgaria (AOGGAB) to find out why, and he explained that “the Balkans needs better coordination, faster exchange of information and a stronger regional voice”. Perhaps this cohesion of trade bodies, or a similar initiative, on these shores is something that Bradley would be in favour of. He continued: “The important point is not simply presenting a louder argument; it is presenting a clearer and better-evidenced one. Where government decisions affect taxation, employment, investment and the viability of high-street premises simultaneously, there is a benefit in bringing that evidence together rather than examining each measure in isolation. “There may therefore be scope for greater collaboration between trade bodies, individual operators and advisers to demonstrate the cumulative effect of policy changes across the sector. However, that does not mean everybody has to agree on every issue. “Where there is common ground, a consolidated approach supported by credible data is likely to be more useful than a collection of competing headline figures or arguments made independently of one another.” Is it really doomsday for high street gambling? In fairness to these trade bodies, it does seem an arduous task to fight the corner of the industry which the government seems hellbent on heavily regulating. It is not just these trade bodies which are firing warning shots to the Labour government, either. Over the weekend, Betfred founder Fred Done made a damning prediction that betting shops will be extinct by 2030. And while Bradley agrees that there are a whole host of headwinds that the UK gambling industry is having to deal with, he did suggest that these predictions may be slightly overblown. He stated: “I would be cautious about describing it as doomsday. There are undoubtedly significant pressures on the retail estate, but there are also businesses that will look at how they can adapt rather than simply withdraw from the high street.” If there’s one thing the British betting sector, and its critics for that matter, have been crying out for over the past five years or so, it’s clarity. The review of the 2005 Gambling Act took over three years, and saw the deadline for final submission repeatedly pushed back – delaying much needed clarity. Even the final White Paper in April 2023 was met with a tepid reaction from some corners. Three years down the road, the industry continues to face calls for further regulatory review, with a particular focus on advertising standards. Change is also afoot regarding local licensing, with the government-backed plan to reverse the Aim to Permit rule. Industry leadership needs regulatory clarity to plan for the future and ensure sustainability. Securing this clarity requires a robust communications strategy, however, and lobbying against the tax hikes of last year’s budget suggests the industry’s approach has been far from watertight. “It depends what problem we are actually trying to solve here,” said Bradley. “It is easy to say that the industry needs to provide solutions, but first there needs to be clarity around the concern, the evidence supporting it and the outcome policymakers are seeking. What solutions are we actually trying to provide? What concerns need addressing? What is it we’re trying to fix? “There is also an obvious tension in government policy. Gambling provides significant tax revenues, but if taxation reaches a level at which businesses close premises or reduce investment, anticipated additional revenues may not materialise in the way expected. This then creates further pressure to what is already a highly pressured relationship between government and the gambling industry. “The majority of customers gamble safely and enjoy gambling and the industry should continue explaining what a well-run, compliant betting shop contributes, while also acknowledging legitimate concerns. Ultimately, however, meaningful modernisation requires both responsible operators and a regulatory framework that allows sensible innovation to take place.”