BGC Launches Back Our Betting Shops Campaign Amid UK Tax Concerns

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has launched its Back Our Betting Shops campaign as the UK gambling industry steps up warnings over the potential impact of further tax increases on the retail sector.

The campaign will focus on betting shop employees, customers and communities across Britain, highlighting the role of retail betting businesses on local high streets ahead of future government decisions on gambling taxation.

It comes amid particular concern within the sector over the possibility of an increase in Machine Games Duty (MGD), following significant tax changes announced in the 2025 Budget.

The BGC said its campaign would feature long-serving employees, apprentices and managers alongside customers and community partners, with the trade body seeking to illustrate the potential consequences of further increases in operating costs.

BGC Warns 1,500 Betting Shops Could Be At Risk

The BGC cited modelling conducted by EY which estimates that increasing the standard rate of MGD to 40% could put almost 1,500 betting shops, as many as 34 casinos and approximately 16,000 jobs at risk.

The industry-commissioned modelling also projects that such an increase could ultimately leave the Treasury £124 million worse off as closures and changes in consumer behaviour offset additional tax receipts.

These figures represent projections rather than confirmed outcomes of any future tax change.

According to the BGC, more than 3,000 betting shops have already closed since 2019, resulting in the loss of over 16,000 jobs. It said 22 casinos have closed over the same period, with more than 3,000 jobs lost, alongside 108 bingo club closures affecting more than 2,000 positions.

Despite the contraction, the trade body estimates that Britain's betting shops continue to support more than 36,000 jobs.

The wider regulated betting and gaming industry supports approximately 109,000 jobs, generates £6.8 billion in gross value added and contributes more than £4 billion annually in tax, according to BGC figures.

Campaign Puts Betting Shop Workers At Centre

BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said the campaign was intended to put individual workers and communities at the centre of the debate surrounding gambling taxation.

“Behind every betting shop is a team of real people earning a living, supporting their families and playing a part in their local community,” Hurst said.

“These shops are not just businesses. For many people they are community hubs, familiar places on the high street where people work, meet and socialise, often with staff who have known their customers for years.”

Betting shops also contribute financially to British horseracing through the statutory Horserace Betting Levy, alongside media rights payments and commercial arrangements. Operators additionally provide sponsorship to other professional and grassroots sports.

Retail Tax Debate Intensifies

The campaign follows warnings from individual operators about the potential consequences of increasing MGD.

Entain CEO Stella David recently wrote to the Prime Minister arguing that doubling the standard MGD rate to 40% would add approximately £100 million to the annual cost of operating the company's UK retail business.

Entain operates around 2,300 Ladbrokes and Coral shops and employs more than 12,000 people across its retail estate.

Remote Gaming Duty has already increased from 21% to 40%, while a new 25% General Betting Duty rate for most remote betting is scheduled to take effect from April 2027.

The Back Our Betting Shops campaign will now seek to bring the retail sector's employment and community arguments into the wider debate as the industry continues to lobby against further increases in land-based gambling taxation.