Treasury's proposed new Remote Betting & Gaming Duty would be 'catastrophic for Racing's fragile finances' BGC warn
BETTING & GAMING COUNCIL chiefs have warned HM Treasury any further tax increases would be "catastrophic for Racing's fragile finances".
It comes following a proposal into 'The Tax Treatment of
Remote Gambling' which would see taxes hiked further, due to the increase in remote users in gambling.
2
The latest proposal follows fresh on the heels of the gambling White Paper, which hit the gambling sector's revenue by over a billion pounds.
Trends have shown that punters are using mobile devices more and more for their betting.
At present, the structure of tax makes clear distinctions between general betting, pool betting and remote gaming, with the government suggesting it now doesn't reflect the increased use of the latter.
As such, they're looking to introduce a new single remote gambling tax - named Remote Betting & Gaming Duty - which would include 'betting and gaming activities offered remotely such as online casino,
and remote betting including general and pool betting'.
But BGC chiefs have hit back, saying its members already contribute £6.8bn to the economy and generate £4bn in tax", while any further tax increases would 'make a mockery of the government's strategy for growth'.
They've also warned it could have a detrimental impact on punters moving into the black market for their gaming, and also for the future of horse racing, which is already battling with its finances.
Betting and Gaming Council CEO, Grainne Hurst, said: 'Raising taxes further now on regulated betting and gaming through a new single tax would be utterly self-defeating for the Government, while making a mockery of their growth strategy.
'Any potential further increase in taxes on our members, so soon after a White Paper which cost the sector over a billion pounds in lost revenue, will not raise more money for the Treasury.
'If General Betting Duty is raised to the same level as Remote Gaming Duty under one new tax, it would be catastrophic for Racing's fragile finances.
'It will also likely force businesses to push investment and jobs overseas, while making their products more expensive for UK customers, driving them to the growing unsafe gambling black market online, which doesn't pay a penny in tax and doesn't have any of the safer gambling protections available in the regulated sector.
'BGC members contribute £6.8bn to the economy, generate £4bn in tax while supporting 109,000 jobs, but this flawed approach can only lead to a spiral of decline.
'Government must listen to business and sport and not drive growth, investment and jobs out of one of the UK's few global business success stories.'
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
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