Bookmaker and gambling industry leaders criticize Labour’s plan to raise remote gaming duty, saying it could lead to closures of betting sites and job losses. The backlash follows comments from Entain chief executive Stella David, who warns the change would have a “massive impact.”
Industry representatives point to the proposed increase in remote gaming duty from 21% to 40%, scheduled for April. They argue the higher tax burden would affect operators’ business models and staffing, and may force some companies to scale back operations. The concerns are framed around potential operational and employment consequences rather than any changes to in-person betting.
The reporting highlights the dispute over the policy’s likely effects: the government’s rationale is not detailed in the provided articles, while the industry’s perspective emphasizes near-term financial pressure and reductions in physical retail presence. Across outlets, the focus remains on the size of the duty increase and the industry’s warning about what it could mean for sites and workers.
