The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has launched the Back Our Betting Shops initiative in anticipation of the upcoming Autumn Budget, which the government will reveal soon. This campaign follows warnings from Entain and Betfred, which indicated they might have to close their betting shops if the government decides to increase the Machine Games Duty (MGD), the tax applied to revenues from gaming machines.
Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the BGC, emphasized that these betting shops serve as vital community hubs, functioning as familiar locations on the high street where people gather, work, and socialize.
As outlined in the campaign, the government plans to raise all three rates of the MGD. Specifically, the lowest rate will increase to 10% from the previous 5%, the standard rate will rise to 40% from 20%, and the high-rate duty will go from 25% to 50%.
The BGC’s campaign seeks to underscore the potential impact of these changes on land-based betting operators and their workforce, affecting employees and retail operators alike. Hurst stated, "We have already seen thousands of shops close and thousands of jobs disappear. Further tax increases would not just show up on a balance sheet. This campaign is about telling the stories behind the statistics and making sure the voices of the people whose jobs and communities are at stake are heard."
Additionally, the BGC’s efforts appear to be a response to the planned increases in Remote Gaming Duty and General Betting Duty set for 2025. Concurrently, the British Horseracing Authority has initiated the #AxeTheRacingTax campaign, and The Sun is backing its Save Our Bets initiative.
This discussion is taking place amid considerations of public funding and taxation, with Dom Burnham suggesting that the country could explore an NHS-like social care model, funded through innovative revenue sources.
