Entain boss warns UK government against gambling tax hike
Summary
Entain chief executive Stella David has warned the UK government that proposed gambling tax increases could force the operator to reassess its investment in the UK, potentially closing high-street betting shops and shifting focus to other markets. The comments come ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s November budget, where ministers are under pressure to raise several gambling levies.
Key policy proposals under discussion include raising the remote gambling duty from 21% to 50%, increasing slot and gaming machine duties from 20% to 50%, and lifting the general betting duty from 15% to 25%. Think-tank estimates suggest the measures could raise about £3.2 billion.
Author style: Punchy — this is a clear, direct warning from a major operator about immediate business and employment consequences.
Key Points
- Entain warns higher gambling taxes could make certain high-street shops unviable and prompt shop closures across its 2,300 outlets, threatening thousands of UK jobs.
- Stella David said Entain would consider reducing UK investment and could even weigh moving its primary listing overseas if taxes rise steeply.
- Proposed tax changes being discussed could raise remote gambling duty to 50%, slot/gaming machine duties to 50% and betting duty to 25%; estimates put potential revenues at around £3.2 billion.
- Entain stresses it already pays significant tax — £513 million last year — and ranks among the UK’s top 20 taxpayers.
- Regulated operators warn a sharp tax rise risks boosting the black market, which can appear professional but pays no UK tax and undermines consumer protections.
- Gambling sector bodies note the industry contributes about £4 billion in taxes annually plus additional support to horse racing and sports.
- Public-health groups such as GambleAware welcome the debate, emphasising gambling harm is a serious issue requiring government attention.
Context and relevance
The story sits at the intersection of public finance, regulation and industry strategy. The government is balancing calls to raise revenue and address gambling harms with warnings from operators that higher levies could shrink the regulated market, cost jobs and push customers to unlicensed providers.
For the gambling sector, this debate could change business models, investment flows and corporate listings — as seen when other firms shifted focus abroad. For policymakers, the risk–reward trade-off is between revenue and potential unintended consequences such as a stronger black market or reduced domestic industry investment.
Why should I read this?
Short version: if you care about the UK betting market, jobs, tax policy or the future of regulated gambling, this could matter — big time. Entain is a major player; its warnings signal real commercial pain if taxes jump. Read on for the who, what and likely knock‑on effects.