Gambling reform advocate takes higher role in MPs lobby group

Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent East, has been announced as the new Vice Chair of the Gambling Reform All-Party Parliamentary Group (GR APPG), amid a flurry of lobbying around UK gambling taxes. Butler has been one of the main voices campaigning for more government intervention in the UK gambling sector, primarily revolving around player protection and with a particular focus on retail gaming. She was an instrumental figure in the lobbying against the ‘Aim to Permit’ rule, which was later scrapped by PM Andy Burnham to give local authorities more control over the licensing of land-based venues within their constituencies. “We are delighted to have Dawn take on this new role and look forward to continuing our work together to deliver stronger protections for individuals, families and communities across the UK,” the APPG said in a statement. Butler raises through the APPG ranks at a time when the cross-party group is mounting pressure on the government, with the group’s Co-Chair, Alex Ballinger MP, writing a letter co-signed by 90 Labour MPs urging Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey to raise the Machine Games Duty (MGD) with next week’s Budget. The main argument is that the social impact of gambling harms must be addressed by raising public service revenues. And while the gambling sector has continuously acknowledged problem gambling by incorporating safer play by design, the industry has argued back that higher taxes – on top of those introduced in 2025 – will be detrimental for not only thousands of gambling employees, but also for the entire high street economy. John Healey reportedly looking to cap MGD at 25% Betting’s impact on the high street Recent weeks have seen the betting industry campaigning against an MGD increase go into overdrive. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and major retail operators have been particularly vocal. Coral and Ladbrokes owner Entain, for example, has published the findings of a YouGov study this morning, revealing that 90% of betting shop customers also combine their bookies visit with spending in other establishments. The study, which surveyed a total of 1,475 UK adults, said that 54% of all respondents combined their trips to the betting shop with other spending on most or nearly every visit. Meanwhile, 68% agree that betting shops are a key component of the high street. Bejay Patel, Managing Director UK and Ireland for Entain Group, said: “This research confirms what our hard-working colleagues know to be true – betting shops are a cornerstone of every high street and provide a boost to local business. We need to recognise the important contribution betting shops make to our economy and local communities alike.” The study is part of Entain’s ‘What’s at Stake’ campaign, which was launched as part of its campaigning against further gambling tax increases that can cause a wave of shop closures and job losses – something that is already happening across the sector as a result of last year’s Budget.